[NSRCA-discussion] Noxville Contest??

[Earl Haury]

I agree with John - there's no way we should be trusting those sneaky, tiny "interrogated" circuits that operate on enclosed smoke with the safety of our or our fellow flyers body parts! The IC engine is kind enough to make a bunch of noise and smoke to alert us that the (obviously turning) prop means business. The E motor lays still in wait for the unsuspecting whenever the batts are connected - potentially more dangerous than a full throttle IC engine.

I prefer an external jumper that can be inserted just before flight (from behind the prop). I instruct my caller to approach my aircraft from the rear and remove the jumper before picking it up after a flight. I also make it a point to treat the TX as one would with an IC engine running until the airplane is secured. This certainly isn't the only way to address the issue - simply connecting the batts and treating the airplane as though it has an IC engine running full throttle until the batts are disconnected works fine - as long as one isn't careless. It's just a bit too easy to become complacent, as the dormancy belays the power just a glitch or component failure away.

At the Nats (in the rain) an E powered airplane (could just as well have happened to IC) went full throttle on landing (just before touchdown). The pilot landed on the second try and the airplane stopped facing the pits with the prop stopped. The pilot recognized the potential danger (of it going full throttle again) and shouted for his caller to "jump on the thing" - initially the caller began approaching it from the front before realizing the thing was a loaded gun (even though the prop was stopped)! After circling behind and grabbing it (it didn't come to life) all was well - not sure how many recognized the danger.

Those who've taken the time to think E safety through and/or learned through experience (hopefully all good) should be quick to pass on the info and advise the inexperienced. This not only aids them but helps ensure the safety of all of us!

Earl



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Ferrell 
  To: NSRCA Mailing List 
  Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 3:42 PM
  Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Noxville Contest??


  I personally witnessed an instance of electric starting unexpectedly at the Nats. Since I was only around Masters & FAI I believe it safe to dismiss the problem as lack of experience.

  I feel it essential to implement some kind of safety device to prevent this from occurring. I would prefer a mechanical lockout of some sort or at least an arming plug.

  The airplane was being carried back to the pits when the failure occurred. The handler was on top of the problem but it could have happened after the plane was parked.

  It is a disaster waiting to happen.

  John Ferrell    W8CCW
  "My Competition is not my enemy"
  http://DixieNC.US

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: J.Oddino 
    To: NSRCA Mailing List 
    Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 12:53 PM
    Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Noxville Contest??


    Another reason to go electric.

    Jim O
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: John Ferrell 
      To: NSRCA Mailing List 
      Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 9:38 AM
      Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Noxville Contest??


      I have an $8000 left thumb. They installed a couple of options while they were rebuilding. It warns of weather changes and also serves as an alarm clock (sometimes).

      I recommended that a student headed for a pro basket ball career give up RC until the career was behind him.

      John Ferrell    W8CCW
      "My Competition is not my enemy"
      http://DixieNC.US

        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: BUDDYonRC at aol.com 
        To: nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org 
        Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2006 11:10 AM
        Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Noxville Contest??


        About two years ago I got my finger in one It cut the right index finger off at the first joint. Wrapped the finger in a towel went to the hospital with the severed finger, three month's and $6000.00 later it was almost as good as new except it is still numb on the end. APC's show no mercy.
        Buddy 


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