Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
This might not be the right place to post this but it does involve some educating of our flight group.club.
The education started when we incorporated our club and we had been trying to keep the whole atmosphere of the club friendly with gentle application of the rules. We also accepted all comers and all types of flying models. One of our members was an avid Multi-copter/FPV aficionado.
After about a month of his commencement he decided to transition of fixed wing and so imported a Ranger FPV platform a relatively large and powerful plane and he decided to set it up himself.
His first efforts to get it airborne were disappointing and so after repairs he returned to try again. On the second visit he broke almost every safety rule we had as an rarely stated codes of practice.
Sadly his level of knowledge of fixed wing flight was very limited and his practice of just taking off anytime he wanted to was fine for his Quad but not good for sharing airspace over an active flying field. He started his take off run from behind the flight line, (this was effectively still his maiden flight). He did not announce his take off or even check for other aircraft.
Anyway he did his take off run, (cross wind), it veered right, he just kept going and lifted off, (We believe that he assumed it would self correct), It lifted into the air and headed in a circular course directly towards the flight line full of other pilots and missed the first one by only just over a metre. He actually flew between the flight line and the pit area.
With almost everyone yelling at him, by now, he landed it still turning and did minor damage to one wing, (Dragged the tip along the ground), and ripped of the landing gear, (Sideways landings can be rough).
After the incident we had a few "Experten" examine his setup and found that the aileron movements were very small with large flap deflections. We informed that we would help him, (obviously his expertise was shown to be less than we had assumed), and if necessary someone he chose could maiden and test fly it for him and help/educate/train him into the air.
A few days later he effectively resigned from our club via email.
Quads use computers to fly and most fixed wing model aircraft do not. He had assumed that planes would be as easy to fly as his Quads and faced with being regarded as someone with no flight experience was too much for his ego to bear.
We all learned to ensure that the flight rules were taught to all new pilots regardless of their claims and their first flights are to be done in a clear sky and flight line until they have shown a minimal acceptable level of ability.
Our whole club membership went to school that day and we regard what happened as a lesson well learned. Friendly - Yes. Ignorant - NEVER AGAIN.
The education started when we incorporated our club and we had been trying to keep the whole atmosphere of the club friendly with gentle application of the rules. We also accepted all comers and all types of flying models. One of our members was an avid Multi-copter/FPV aficionado.
After about a month of his commencement he decided to transition of fixed wing and so imported a Ranger FPV platform a relatively large and powerful plane and he decided to set it up himself.
His first efforts to get it airborne were disappointing and so after repairs he returned to try again. On the second visit he broke almost every safety rule we had as an rarely stated codes of practice.
Sadly his level of knowledge of fixed wing flight was very limited and his practice of just taking off anytime he wanted to was fine for his Quad but not good for sharing airspace over an active flying field. He started his take off run from behind the flight line, (this was effectively still his maiden flight). He did not announce his take off or even check for other aircraft.
Anyway he did his take off run, (cross wind), it veered right, he just kept going and lifted off, (We believe that he assumed it would self correct), It lifted into the air and headed in a circular course directly towards the flight line full of other pilots and missed the first one by only just over a metre. He actually flew between the flight line and the pit area.
With almost everyone yelling at him, by now, he landed it still turning and did minor damage to one wing, (Dragged the tip along the ground), and ripped of the landing gear, (Sideways landings can be rough).
After the incident we had a few "Experten" examine his setup and found that the aileron movements were very small with large flap deflections. We informed that we would help him, (obviously his expertise was shown to be less than we had assumed), and if necessary someone he chose could maiden and test fly it for him and help/educate/train him into the air.
A few days later he effectively resigned from our club via email.
Quads use computers to fly and most fixed wing model aircraft do not. He had assumed that planes would be as easy to fly as his Quads and faced with being regarded as someone with no flight experience was too much for his ego to bear.
We all learned to ensure that the flight rules were taught to all new pilots regardless of their claims and their first flights are to be done in a clear sky and flight line until they have shown a minimal acceptable level of ability.
Our whole club membership went to school that day and we regard what happened as a lesson well learned. Friendly - Yes. Ignorant - NEVER AGAIN.
