RC Flying for an Idiot

[GHD]

A friend had a 60 powered model which flew off and crashed through a roof about a mile away. He was glad he had insurarance.

[DaveB]

I'm sure he was mate. I guess even the smallest model could be responsible for an accident
ATB
DaveB

[GHD]

I was almost hit by a 5ft glider in a vertical dive and heard the thump as it hit the ground.

The worst scenario is if a powered aircraft hits a child (it has happened).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/503181.stm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... plane.html

[DaveB]

Two very sad cases George and I have to say that had I been in control.. no, in charge of models of that size, I'd have no hesitation in getting insurance.. especially given the circumstances.. flying at Clubs where public displays are the norm. Put it into perspective though. My Hobbyzone Champ weighs 38gm (flying weight). The PKZ Mustang is around 720gm, the Wildcat is the same and the Super Cub similar. My Bixler is 650gm and the ASW28 is 520gm.. both flying weight. Where you fly and what you fly are important. While I'm not saying insurance isn't important, you have to weigh up the pros and cons of where and what you fly and consider the hazards accordingly.

Ultimately, the safest thing to do would be to have insurance.. specially in these days of 'where there's blame, there's a claim'

ATB
DaveB

[Hot_Charlie]

You are right George, and I would recommend everyone to join the BMFA its only bout £30 a year . However I think there is little risk in the park fliers, even more so if you keep sensible precautions by not flying near anyone ( I think most of us try to avoid an audience)
Dale

£30 a year well spent if you're one of the couple of people who've been unlucky enough to own/fly the models which have killed a couple of people in the UK in the past decade or so.

Even an electric foamie going at a reasonable speed will cause human damage if it ends up in the wrong place.

[DaveB]

Even an electric foamie going at a reasonable speed will cause human damage if it ends up in the wrong place.

It would indeed. I'd hate to have been under my Mustang when it went nose in at full chat a couple of months ago! What I do is minimise the risks (and embarrassment) as much as possible by flying early morning (mostly).. that is up to 9am.. 9:30. Perhaps I'll go out in the week early PM but at any time.. if there are too many bods around, I won't launch. Many's the time I've been over the common and kids have been playing footie so I just go back home. I only live seconds away (at the nearest) from where I fly.. 3 or 4 mins at the furthest (on foot) so it's no great hassle.

ATB
DaveB

[PaulC]

Fortunately there are huge areas around me where you can be the only person for miles so I'll be lucky that way. Still wading through "Flying for real" and x-referencing what I'm learning.

[DaveB]

Yes.. it will get a bit heavy at times That thread charts my RC flying from day one with all the ups and downs associated with it.. and there are a few believe me I've leaned heavily on the experiences of Eddie and Dale.. in fact it's Eddies fault I'm where I am anyway I'd always fancied RC flying but wouldn't make the jump until that thread was started. I'm glad I did though the wife wouldn't say the same.. the front room is full of my stuff and there's always one model omni-present ready do go She said yesterday that she's going to 'tidy' the front room up. I told her she's not

I might nip out today as it happens. The sun is out and I can't see much wind evidence

ATB
DaveB