A Fall Tale

[Joe Dunnaway]

Bob,  We had a cable at our field just like that.   After multiple incidents
just like you described,  the cable was removed.
 
Joe
 
P.S.  I'm glad you saved the plane. :)
 
 

  _____  

From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org] On
Behalf Of Bob Pastorello
Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2005 11:43 AM
To: NSRCA
Subject: A Fall Tale


Interesting start to a beautiful flying day yesterday.  Just gorgeous day.
Van loaded, drive to the field.  Empty!  Yee ha!  Gonna be great.
    Unloading everything, just taking my normal sweet time, enjoying it.  I
get out so rarely, that I was just really enjoying the day.
    Well, I like to back the van up close enough to the cable ( our pits are
separated with 1" oil drilling cable, strung through 2" drill pipe spaced
about every 15' - VERY strong stuff) so that getting everything out is less
walking.
    Got the wing out, the flight box, the cradle....then comes the fuse.
Always just a little tricky pulling it out of the van without bashing the
tail, or straining the gear....the Icepoint is a little awkward...but I got
it out.
    Turned, holding the fuse by one gear leg, other hand supporting fuse
about halfway back.  I very carefully looked down at the cable, stepped over
it with the right leg...made sure I'm clear.  Look back to make sure tail
isn't bashing anything and step over with my left foot.
    Almost.  The next few microseconds are somewhat of a blur, but they
replay a little more slowly....
    My left toe snags the cable.
    I fall forward with fuselage across the front of my body.  Knowing FULL
WELL what is about to occur, my mind processes the relative risks of various
falls, and I determine that the AIRPLANE MUST BE SAVED!!!!
    So, as I'm falling, I extend my arms, bracing for the impact that is
rapidly approaching.  As my right knee impacts,  my right shoulder (still
holding the gear leg in the right hand) impacts, but I kept the fuse off the
ground.
    About 5 mincroseconds later, my LEFT knee hits the earth, followed by
left elbow (remember left hand is holding fuse body), and as I fall closer
to the ground, I turn loose of the airplane.  It sort of does a horizontal
roll and thumps to the ground, falling on canopy and one stab/top of fin,
but only from about a foot or so.
    Me, on the other hand - well, I end up nearly full face flat on the
ground, having tripped on a cable strung 20" above the ground.  I thought I
had died.  Every limb immediately began hurting, every limb joint felt like
electricity was flowing, my forehead was bruised, and dignity SEVERELY
damaged.
                    But I "saved the PLANE".
 
Today, I feel like a truck ran over me.....
                    But I "saved the PLANE".
 
I'll be parking closer to the opening in the cable from now on.....

Bob Pastorello
www.rcaerobats.net
rcaerobob at cox.net
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