Crestline Soaring Society

Some people just need to be continually reminded. Pulled this from the archives.

LiteSport149
(10 posts total, last post: May 08, 2006 - 18:59) So there I was sitting in a comfy chair on the parks concrete pad Sunday morning reading my book and enjoying the warmth of the suns rays. I heard a high pitch whine and looked up to see a helicopter headed straight for me. With impact eminent and only a half a second to react I brought up my left arm and twisted to the right. Now it was only an electric model with a 2 foot span on the blade but it still hurt and left me with an inch scratch on my left triceps. Thankfully it hit my arm and not my face and also thankfully it did not hit of any of the children that will milling about. So let us all use some common sense with all our toys and remember “Safety First.” Rich Regal

mckenzie
(246 posts total, last post: May 13, 2006 - 21:36) I suggest that those using RCs at the field be proactive to ensure safe use of the RCs. The CSS is not likely going to be getting into details of regulations for RCs. We have come many years with negligible rc impact on those there for the real use of the site, a hang gliding/paragliding site. If it stays safe then rc flying will probably continue. If it appears to be a danger to spectators or pilots in the air, then fssssssssssst.... they disappear. (I won't be making the decision personally so I'm just guessing what the CSS board would do)

If you fly RC's stay away from spectators or pilots in the air. Regulate yourselves as well. Steer other RC'ers to safe areas.

rob

I like the south end idea.

The same thought crossed my mind, Dusty. I plan to bring out various toys to the LZ, like wrist rockets for the squirrels (don't worry, can't actually *hit* one, based on my entire Jr. High experience), an RC truck, RC glider, boomerang, etc.

I'd be mortified to cause a problem, but I tend to fly on weekdays and would rather watch all the gliders land on a weekend.

remind me to tell you my story of the perfect rock, the perfect throw and the imperfect seagull.

Did you hit a bird......

Ok Dusty, I now undertand why all the questions you have made me about the big heli, just to satisfy you and some other "people" at the LZ, I will be away from the croud, I did believe that I was at a safe distance but I guess you desagree about my judgment, cool, no problem, I will be away as far as possible and if you still think that I'm to close, please tell me. I'm All ears.

Heh! Who are you calling "people?" Talk about RUDE!

Ok Stan, sorry for my lack of english. animals :)

In reguards to flying helicopters at the LZ, mr. Zeller comment had no reply button, So here it is: He stated that last saturday and sunday we, me and Stephen were flying the helis too close for confort, well mr. zeller, last saturday we did in fact flown the heli's but before my flight I walked to the area passing south of the bulls eye, before take-off I looked around and up to make sure of the clearance between the gliders and the heli, there was plenty of space to fly specially because the hang glider(Mr. Mckenzie)that was comming to land was far enough, then one of the pilots came to me to tell me to land the heli because there was a pilot landing, As I said I was aware of Mr. McKenzie comming to land, as I have stated, Mr. McKenzie was far enough and I had plenty of time to land the heli, he did not needed to tell me of the approaching glider, specially the way he addressed too me, I think that the pilot that approached me is the same that shouted to marcello kids and to Priscilla (My Daughter), when they where playing with a plastic ball at the LZ, He start to scream at the kids just because a plastic ball was close to his precious hangglider, in reguards to the people that was close to the heli, I personally told them that the heli was not a toy and that it can hurt them badly, they were aware of the health hazzards, besides that they came close because they wanted to see the heli close by, as I said before I was far enough from them but they asked to come close, if they know the dangers that a heli imposses and they still want to see it close by is there responsability, I did got far way as Mr. McKenzie had requested me to do., As I can see there is no messages from them here stating that they were concerned about the heli comming so close to them. Just to make you aware of how I respect the people that came about the heli, last sunday, when I was flying the heli Mr. Stan daughter made a motion to appoach the heli and I told her to stay away from the heli because of the danger, She did comply, so as you can see a believe that I don't need you to play the one to say that I'm close enough or not, I myself tell people to stay away as I know the danger of it myself.

Your first response was good. The second might get RC's voted out of the LZ.

Yes siree, Billy Boy, the world does indeed revolve around you.

-Stan

That idea gets my vote.

I tried to pose my original post about RC models in the LZ as a question about safety (rather than an overt statement) because I have been accused my entire life of being overly cautious. I grant this is true so I should not be one to attempt to set guidelines. That being said I find myself opening my big mouth here again.

I think the suggestion about flying RC models at the South end of the LZ is a good one. I would add that personally I think it's reasonable for small and slow moving RC planes to be operated along the West edge of the LZ as well. I have seen RC operators fly many times in the ridge lift there, and as long as they show discretion, which they always have, it seems safe enough to me. On the other hand, if Paragliders who are ground handling have a different opinion then the RC operators should yield the area to them, of course.

I only fly Hang Gliders. If I were to overshoot the LZ while landing I doubt a collision with one of those light models would do much harm, so I don’t have a fear of them. But the thought of a collision with a large RC helicopter makes me cringe. And worse still, if its rotor were to become entangled in the wing or lines of a Paraglider, could the result be anything less than catastrophic?

Now again, I’m just asking. Is the risk of collision small enough to allow large RC helicopters, which are quite heavy, have long fast moving rotors and dart around the sky very rapidly, to fly where HGs and PGs could be on a low approach, scratching, or overshooting the LZ?

Mike Z

P.S. I love watching RC models fly, and the helicopters are marvels. It's a reasonable assessment of the hazards that I'm looking for here. I concede that my judgement may not be the best.

... a ban on RC's, period. I don't want it to end up like the dog issue where one or a few bad owners effed it up for the rest of us.

My parents or my culture ingrained into my brain that my rights end where another's begins. This is a simple concept that seems to be lacking in certain others, like the French or ZZ Top panty dude #2 from a couple weeks ago. If everyone would take a step back and consider rights from the other person's point of view, we wouldn't need rules that must apply to everyone to control situations generated by the 5% of inconsiderate ones.

In looking at the heli situation from the spectator's point of view, it really doesn't matter what the operators' views of their own abilities are or whether they think they have adequate clearance. An upside down lawnmower 20' away is intimidating and a buzz-kill for many. They have a right to a nice afternoon soaring experience.

As for landing approaches... well, the last thing any pilot wants to see down there is an obstacle course. It doesn't matter that the heli operator knows he will clear the runway. The pilot has been forced by someone else to accept one more factor in shooting his approach. This crosses the "right" barrier. Consideration of landing short or long and left or right of the center line means a hang glider is within 2 seconds of 80% of the field. Stay out of the box even if the approaching pilot is high. He's trying to land fer crissakes.

Here are the bullets for the World According to Stan.

-If you are unwilling to control your dog or are off flying and not even there, leave them at home.

-If you are unwilling to control your kids or are not even there, leave them at home.

-Stay out of the landing box which comprises 80% of the field.

-Keep alternate toys well away from other humanoids.

-Don't make decisions for others.

-Keep the hell away from my precious hang glider.

-Religion is the root of all evil.