SAFETY WITH MODELS

There have been some near misses at the field over a period of time, so it’s time for a few reminders about safety.
Models should be tethered before connecting batteries.
Range tests should be done before the first flight of the day, with each model. Good idea to have someone there to tell you if servos are jittering
when signal is decreased at a distance.

There have been four instances that I know of this year, where an electric motor has revved up unexpectedly. All with transmitter on, throttle
stick at zero and throttle cut on. Three were when the battery was plugged in (armed) and the speed controllers proved to be faulty. The fourth might have been a TX setup
problem.

DO NOT put hands, wrists, arms or any other part of your body into the arc of the prop of an electric model when connecting or disconnecting
the battery or carrying the model to or from the flight line. The battery must be connected from behind the prop and the model must be carried
from behind the prop, by the fuselage or wing or both, with the prop facing away from you.

DO NOT CARRY A MODEL WITH THE PROP FACING YOU.

“Throttle cut” must be set up and used if your radio gear will do it , but it must NOT be used in lieu of the above. I know some blokes say “I have a throttle cut”, or “I always hold the throttle down with my thumb”

DO NOT TAKE THE RISK IT’S NOT THAT DIFFICULT.

If signal is lost while flying, the RX goes into failsafe, and the throttle will come back to idle (fuel motor) or zero (electric).
Remember, if you bind a receiver and find the throttle needs to be reversed, the RX MUST BE REBOUND after reversing. IF YOU DON’T REBIND and the signal is lost, OR YOU ACCIDENTALLY SWITCH THE TX OFF BEFORE DISARMING THE MODEL, and the RX goes into “failsafe” it is then full throttle.

Pusher props are a different story of course.
Remember, when starting a glow engine, DO NOT reach over the spinning prop to unclip the glow driver or tune the motor, get around behind the wing, or at least behind the prop. Nobody but the person starting the motor should be in front of, or to the side of the prop. When the motor starts, the starter person must get behind the prop before the motor is revved up. This is in case the prop spins off , it will go forward, or if a prop blade has a hidden fracture from a previous “arrival” it could fly off in either direction, to the side or forward. When this happens the prop is so much out of balance the firewall is usually ripped out of the model.

A fuel motor will usually stop if the prop hits something, but an electric motor will keep trying to bite.

A few members have shown me the series of cuts from the prop of an electric motor. Then there’s the bloke who had a motor that spun up unexpectedly. The prop chewed up the inside leg of his shorts, missing his leg and the
family jewels. (His words,not mine.)
Handle fuel and electric models with care. Stay safe.

CIRCUITS

Regarding circuits as mentioned in the minutes of the AGM, we are in no way saying you can only fly circuits.
If you are the only one flying do what you like, but not in the “no fly” zone of course. There is a “no fly” diagram on the door of the sign in box.
If there are two pilots flying at once, with good communication, there should be no problem.

When there are three or more pilots flying and a certain circuit direction is called, we should adhere to that direction. Have some respect for the fellow who has just gone solo, very happy that they were flying alone, his concentration is at its maximum, and suddenly a plane comes into his view from the opposite direction. It’s very unnerving for him, and for the rest of us too. Don’t just taxi onto the strip for a takeoff, make sure it’s OK with pilots already in the air.

If you need to go onto the strip to retrieve a model, make sure it’s OK with the other pilots with models in the air, and those pilots will NOT decide to do a low pass until the strip is clear. Communicate, such as “low pass right to left”  “anding” etc. with other pilots while in the air. We should also acknowledge their calls so they know we heard them.
If you are flying aerobatics or a glider out to one end or the other, away from others in the circuit, you should return into the circuit in the agreed direction. 

The above might seem unnecessary, flying  “toy” planes, but there is a fair investment in our models, even a new club member’s first foamy. Some might get a laugh out of a midair collision but for some on a tight budget, it could be the end of their flying. Let’s not have that happen.