oteskate
Heliman
Location: Long Island, NY - USA
My Posts This: Topic Forum | I think that these photos and stories are good to always just give us a reminder as to how serious this hobby can be. We all, over time, become very complacent with our machines, rather they be helis, planes, cars, etc. We begin setting up and testing our machines in confined spaces, spooling up without checking all our screws and bolts, make poor pre/post flight checks, etc... all without thinking about little things and it's these little things that can seriously hurt or kill ourselves or those innocent viewers in the vicinity.
I am guilty of such things, and luckily the only thing that has ever "bit" me was my 450 machine as it spooled up to full throttle as I was setting up an ESC on the bench. It was only minor cuts on my upper arm and chest area as the tail flew into me, but I still am left with slight scars that remind me to think twice before plugging in a lipo or starting an engine on any and all of my models.
I also find that fun flys are becoming more and more dangerous as the level of the young pilots grow. Being that these pilots can push the envelope to the levels they do, people want to see things closer, harder, faster, etc. This is causing people to fly MUCH to close to them. It only takes one split second for a link to break loose and that machine is going to become uncontrollable. It bothers me to see these pilots flying so close to them and so low. I know when I fly, sometimes people will be yelling, "lower, lower!!" and I'm inverted on the deck. Sure, I like to get low and make the show exciting, but after once I got too low, I clipped the ground and the heli literally flew at me. Luckily it landed about 6 ft. away, but it wasn't till that moment did it hit me that even something as innocent as flying low inverted, could become a dangerous act for myself and others.
Anyways... I'll close now and apologize for my lengthy post, but I just wanted to add my 2-cents and remind those that even if it hasn't happened to you yet... injury is only a moment away at any time we're flying or handling a machine that is running and I care enough about all my fellow pilots, rather I know 'em or not, that I hope we all just take the moment to think a bit more and be more consciencious of the consequences if we fail to be responsible pilots.
Jeff Butler
St. Louis Whirlybirds
Team Hirobo/MRC
Team Beam/Advantage Hobby |
