Safety Comes First
ACCIDENTS also happen at home: Not all injuries associated with our hobby occur at the flying field. I received two reports during March describing incidents that occurred in modelers' homes, and both required a trip to the hospital. Rick Townsend is an Alexandria, Virginia modeler who flies with the Pohick Pilots club. Rick called me last week to describe how he ended up in the hospital as a result of being struck in the chest by a prop thrown from a model.
Safety Comes First
BEWARE of props! One picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures for this month's Safety column. However, the photo which appeared in the October 1989 showing Bob McMullen's hand after it had been repaired with 59 stitches resulted in a number of letters from readers. Several people said that Bob's accident has convinced them that it isn't wise to fly alone. Yet I still get letters from others who continue to take me to task for preaching this safety message. Bill Hawks is not one of these people.
Safety Comes First
HOT POCKET. Boise Area Radio Kontrol Society (BARKS) member Claude Tanner is one of several regular contributors whose letters keep this column alive. Claude's most recent letter described an incident that could have resulted in a very serious, if not fatal, injury to a fellow club member. In Claude's own words, here's what happened: "Several weeks ago, two BARKS members, Rube Wilski and Harley Forstner, headed for the club flying field. On the way they stopped at the local gun club to sight-in Rube's new pistol. Upon completion of this task, they proceeded to the flying site.
Safety Comes First
In case you didn't see Ron's January column and have thrown away that issue of MA, first let me summarize John Krekelberg's letter. Mr. Krekelberg's club was attempting to obtain a site for a new flying field. At a meeting before the local planning commission, the club was faced with over 100 people opposed to a proposal to locate the flying field in their rural area. To quote from the letter: "At one point during the hour-and-a-half we were lambasted from pillar to post, a man stood up waving two magazines (the names were not visible) and recited from articles on safety and how dangerous model airplanes were and the damage they can cause: fly-aways, fires, injuries, etc.! I think you get the point."
Safety Comes First
THE CANARD PAPERS. Such is the name of the newsletter of the Fauquier Aero Recreation Modelers that is edited by Tom Chipley. FARMer member Mike Powell sent me an issue (more months ago than I'll admit) containing an editorial dissertation on safety that was sparked by an accident suffered by club member Ken Parys. Ken was wearing a glove while hand-starting a 2 hp Olsen and Rice swinging an 18 inch prop and it seems that the prop snagged the glove and pulled Ken's finger into a blade. Tom had the following to say about safety:
