As all of the posts here seem to say... All R/C models are dangerous. I venture to say that we wouldn't enjoy them if they weren't.

Back in about 1988 I was flying my pride and joy a GMP Legend. I was in forward flight, doing nose in hovers and minimal aerobatics.

I came in and landed about 8 feet in front of me, rested a bit then decided to go for one more zip.

Throttled up and nothing happened. Bird was basically dead just sitting there at a high idle. I checked all my switches and couldn't find anything wrong. Just nothing worked.

So I put the transmitter down and slowly approached the heli. Looked it over carefully and decided to try and pull the fuel line. So I put my left knee down and started to reach under. Just then the heli jumped and the main rotor blade impacted my right shin.... HARD.

Well that solved my problem. The blades were now stopped so I killed the engine, retracted my radio antenna and calmly carried my radio and heli back to my table where the flight box was.

I was sort of in shock and stood there slowly packing things up when this 18 year old blonde bombshell of a girl that had been watching came up to me and said, "Let me drive you to the hospital... You are hurt bad!".

I didn't know what she was talking about and must have looked kinda questioning at her and she pointed to my right shoe. I gawked as my right shoe was bright red and there was a nice puddle of blood forming around it.

One of my buddies said he would take care of my bird and gear. This girl half drug me to her small pickup truck. She pushed me in the right side and she was so flustered trying to get out of there in a hurry that she backed up too far into some soft mud/dirt and got stuck.

She was almost crying as she struggled to get free. Two guys ran over and pushed her out and she raced to the closest hospital. I passed out in her car and woke up about an hour later in the E.R.

20 stitches later and some blood and I woke up to she her standing by the bed. I thanked her and learned finally that her name was Jenny. She smiled and left after saying that I would be OK. Never saw her again afer that and I felt bad. I must have left a pool of blood in the right floor board of her pickup.

Strangely enough this accident doesn't keep me from this hobby but it did teach me a lesson. Things will happen and there is little you can do about it but be preventive in nature. Next time my heli doesn't respond I'm gonna simply throw a blanket on it.

--- Here's the pix:

glad to hear you're alright but next time,
make sure to get her phone number
first.

Glad that it worked out OK for you......except.....damn!! I was expecting you to say you dated the "18 yr old bombshell" and have 4 heli pilots in training now and life is good...........
BTW, safety can NEVER be taken for granted, some lessons are hard learned, there is a great signature on here from someone I don't remember just now "learn from other's mistakes...you can't live long enough to make them all yourself". Something along those lines......Great line.......

Well...

I would have LOVED to have dated her but my WIFE wouldn't let me!

Oh well... Too bad it didn't happen about 4 years earlier! :-)

Now everytime I see a new Doc, lab tech, or nurse, I always get asked about the 5 inch scar across my right leg. Everybody always gives me a very funny look when I say it was an R/C heli.

Most people think they are toys!

Jenny

Jenny is the guardian angel of all dumb heli flyers.
However,

She is not too effective if you cut your head off.

got a picture of some scars??? I have two on my wrists from trying to rollerblade drunk down a VERY steep hill... Always loved scar stories... Glad you survived to fly again.. and no, I really dont want to see a picture of 20 stitches...

Jason /// Sceadu50/9chp WWW.Jagboy69.com

Can't find my digital camera. I'll try to take one and post it soon.

Blankets...

Nice disaster story, but whatever you do, never throw a blanket over a running heli.

Some time back, the throttle linkage got jammed on a chappies heli and rather than just let every body get a safe distance and let it run through its tank safely - he still had full control of all other functions - he lobbed his coat on it.. Voila, heli exploded, bits every where. No injuries except the wallet, but that was more by accident than design.

Once again... No cure for dumb... Next time you see someone do something that stupid... please get it on video tape at anycost.!!!! I would pay to watch some fool throw his coat on some spinning blades

Jason /// Sceadu50/9chp WWW.Jagboy69.com

Care to tell her bout me? No seriously great story whoever she is with now must be a lucky guy cause she sounded real nice.

Dodger,

You are right. If the blades are spinning I don't think a blanket is a good idea.

OnceALegend