<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">As a warning system, I vote for an airhorn
on the flight line, of at least 140dB. </font>
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<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Keith...midairs are just like any other
aspect of this hobby, you gotta practice to be good..I landed after
my last one.</font>
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<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Of course, I probably have just cursed
my soon to be painted new Symphony...if you believe in such things.</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><br>
<br>
<br>
Gray Fowler<br>
Senior Principal Chemical Engineer<br>
Radomes and Specialty Apetures<br>
Technical Staff Composites Engineering<br>
Raytheon</font>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>"Keith Black"
<tkeithblack@gmail.com></b> </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">09/25/2007 04:47 PM</font>
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<div align=center><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Please respond to<br>
NSRCA Mailing List <nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org></font></div></table>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">[NSRCA-discussion] Mid-Air discussion</font></table>
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<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Following my mid-air at the N. Dallas contest
this weekend there's been an RCU thread started on the subject. From this
discussion an interesting idea has evolved. For those who would like to
read the thread here's the link: </font><a href=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6409493/anchors_6413018/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#6413018><font size=2 color=blue face="Arial"><u>http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_6409493/anchors_6413018/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#6413018</u></font></a>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">If you'd just like to hear the idea I'll
paste my RCU posting below:</font>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Calibri">This is my third mid-air in four seasons.
My first may have been avoided, but the last two were a complete shock
to both me and my caller. In fact, in mid-air #2 my caller said "you're
good" (meaning we were not going to hit). The other pilot's caller
walked up to me and apologized saying that he told the other pilot that
he was in the clear. Therefore, I don't know how effective a third "spotter"
sitting between the lines could be.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Calibri">That being said, two recent events have
given me an idea of how we might be able to greatly improve this problem.
The first light bulb was Vicente's suggestion of the spotter that warns
the pilots. The second event was my walk out to pick up the fragments of
my beloved Brio. As I was walking back I stood for a bit to observe the
planes looking down the flight path. It was amazing how clearly you can
see each plane as it moves in and out from the flight line. </font>
<br><font size=3 face="Calibri">So here's the idea: What if we sat a spotter
at the corner of the box to watch plane separation in the distance out
dimension and then had the other spotter sitting between the judges (or
even back under the cover) watching in the right to left dimension. These
two spotters could use radios with headsets and continually talk to each
other. There are many times that planes appear to be close to a mid-air
from the flight line viewpoint, however, the number of times that both
spotters would be alarmed should be fairly minimal. When this occurs the
spotter could sound an alarm (this deserves discussion as to the details)
and each pilot could peel off of their course. If one pilot froze the collision
may still be avoided by just one pilot taking action. Sure, this could
cause a mid-air, but viewing from two dimensions should help in alerting
only when an impact is probable.</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Calibri">Some have stated that they've seen very
few mid-airs, but my experience in D6 and NATS is that at least 70% (if
not more) of the contests I've attended have had mid-airs. I'm not going
to run away crying and quit the hobby due to this mid-air, but reducing
such losses would be a benefit to us all!</font>
<br><font size=3 face="Calibri">Keith Black</font><font size=2><tt>_______________________________________________<br>
NSRCA-discussion mailing list<br>
NSRCA-discussion@lists.nsrca.org<br>
http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion</tt></font>
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