RunRyder - Accident at Whittier

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Safety - RC Helis are not toys > Accident at Whittier

GerryRap
Senior Heliman
Location: Chino Hills, CA

robdoyle,

I still stop by Whittier in the morning once in a while. It's on the way to work for me, I work in El Segundo (and Irvine). Whenever I do stop by, I fly (hover) in the morning from 10 - 11:30 then go to work. I do not fly at Prado. The membership there is expensive and I hear the plankers don't like heli pilots. I've been there though and like their field. Although the heli section are just 3 tiny asphalt squares and the rest is sand and bushes. I fly mostly in Ontario on the weekends, early morning. I got into electric airplanes and plan on flying combat wings and gliders in the Chino slope. I'm not sure how long that site is going to last though, home builders are coming.

cnsheets,

The airwolf is doing fine. I actually haven't flown it in a while. I just hovered it last weekend after almost 2 months of not flying. As always with a scale fuse, it needs work and tuning. My raptor is giving me so many problems that I decided to just save up and buy me a raptor 30V2 or a raptor 50V2. That's if I don't get another electric airplane. (Those things are fun!)

12-03-2002 Over year old.

GerryRap
Senior Heliman
Location: Chino Hills, CA

Where are the Carson and Long Beach fields? Can anyone give directions? Maybe I'll go to the mini fly-in.

12-03-2002 Over year old.

CShoemaker
Heliman
Location: Royersford, PA

I hope everyone is OKAY & still FLYING

Eventhough our field is not sanctioned by the AMA, we still follow the rules. I think it is a shame that this happened, but there will always be situations like this, so I hope we can add this as a lesson learned or what NOT TO DO!

Fly safe everyone and most important ENJOY!

12-03-2002 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

IsaaX
Senior Heliman
Location: Cerritos, CA

MrGrantSr,

I'm the dude with the Raptor 30 V2 and I usually drive up with my blue Honda Insight (Hybrid car). I usually pit near the hover pad along with Steve Campbell (from Dreamhobbies) and Rob etc. Hmm now i'm trying to figure out who you are

Rob,

Yup, this weekend should be fun! Hell yeah! bring that grill! I was thinking the same but you know how small my car is! Ken did mention that there's going to be pizza and drinks but I'm not sure how much of it will show.

Chris,

So how's the TT.39 coming along? I actually had mine retuned by one of the guys at the field. I found out that I was way off on the tune and that it was actually running hot! Since the re-tune the motor has been cool to the touch and producing lots of power and smoke. I hope Ace finds something that will give them a reason to send you a new motor. Oh and I just ordered a set of decals from RotorGraphics! It should be here today!

12-03-2002 Over year old.

IsaaX
Senior Heliman
Location: Cerritos, CA

cnsheets,

Nope, I couldn't wait! I placed the order Sunday night after my "after flight check" on my Rappy. I couldn't take those stock graphics anymore since they didn't really help much when it came higher than normal altitudes to practice some rolls and loops. I liked your Sceadu's scheme so much that I ordered the same! Carbon on top and bright orange on the bottom!

Glad to hear your motor is being expedited. It's always nice to be friendly to everyone at the field since you never know what favors they can do for you.

MrGrantSr,

Ah, I know who you are now! You asked me for a Geek Squad shirt last weekend. You're the dude who lounges while flying crazy 3D with your Fury.

12-03-2002 Over year old.

DreamHobbies
Senior Heliman
Location: Long Beach, CA

Hey Isaac

Steve Campbell

12-04-2002 Over year old.

BigRob
Veteran
Location: Long Beach, CA

Accidents

Man,

So far so good at our new field. No major accidents yet. Although, I would have to consider the situation with our Ex-Freya guy that tried to hold his heli down with his arm through the skids when his receiver pack died ...a very serious, and almost tragic brain fart.

Man, that also, reminds me of all the other folks trying to use their FMA copilots being that close to trees. Causing them to get mixed up with the horizon above and below the tree line and crash.

The one......
the only...
The BigRob

12-04-2002 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

IsaaX
Senior Heliman
Location: Cerritos, CA

cnsheets,

Yup it'll be ready tonight! I'm still waitning for the mail man to arrive to hand me my decals! I'll take some photos when I'm done and PM you.

scmodchips,

HI STEVE!

12-04-2002 Over year old.

Gonzo
Heliman
Location: Buena Park, CA

Hey guys!!

Save me some pizza in case I'm late again

Hiroshi

12-04-2002 Over year old.

DreamHobbies
Senior Heliman
Location: Long Beach, CA

Heheheheh! Hiroshi and his 1st post.

Steve Campbell

12-04-2002 Over year old.

DreamHobbies
Senior Heliman
Location: Long Beach, CA

Hey Hiroshi, if they don't save us pizza $%&# them, we'll bring some Sushi

Steve Campbell

12-04-2002 Over year old.

IsaaX
Senior Heliman
Location: Cerritos, CA

Wow! It's Hiroshi! Seems like half of the Long Beach fliers are on this thread today.

Steve, I ate the sandwich that Hiroshi packed for you on Sunday but you were out doing other stuff. MmMMMMM it was good!

12-04-2002 Over year old.

BigRob
Veteran
Location: Long Beach, CA

Holy Cow

HIroshi. WHere? Here? No?

Don't worry, if there is no more pizza. There is always left over donuts.
Everyones favorite to. The ones with regular grain sugar sprinkled all over them

Yummm....

I'll bring my BBQ grill. There's plenty of stray dogs running rampant for us to cook....woof

"They make good eatin in da Philippines."

hehehe

The one......
the only...
The BigRob

12-04-2002 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

HYTEK36
Heliman
Location: Piedmont South Carolina

Well just to add my 2 cents here
1.non AMA sanctioned field...ALL PARTIES ARE WRONG!!
2.be it heli field or plank field everyone Should fly the pattern (if one is setup)
3. sounds like this place is just a field that anyone can fly at "no matter"what the skill level
if this be the case..i am sorry for the guy that got hurt and sorry for the guy flying the heli..he prob feels like crap right about now,,but that is why WE AMA Members pay our dues to AMA and club fields,for the organized flying,and the radio impounds,and for the time when we really do have to use the AMA ins.
i fly at a field here in Ky.that absolutly baffles me..it is in a state park and IS an AMA sanctioned field,but what gets me is that there is a PUBLIC walking path 100 ft in front of the heli flying area,,my god the first time i flew there and people came walking out from behind the trees...i thought i'd S#!* myself..we can fly on the plank side as long as we fly their patten,,,and you know most of us heli guys really have no perticular pattern that we fly in.
so i say all involved at a non sanctioned field and none AMA coverage..all parties are at fault....again sorry for the guy that got hurt!

12-04-2002 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

OCModels
Heliman
Location:

AMA Required???

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't AMA required at Whittier? I was there Sunday for their Toys for Tots event and noticed a sign that stated AMA Required.

I would completely agree about the field being a complete nightmare on the weekends. I have seen more than my share of mishaps and close calls. I try not to fly there if possible.

I don't agree with generalizing plankers and electric flyers at all. I for one could go on for pages about how SOME heli pilots have complete disregard for everyone or how they think they should be able to fly where ever they want anytime they want. We could go on for months debating back and forth but where would that get us? If something is to be done about the unsafe flying conditions at Whittier or anywhere for that matter, we need to get of our @$$ and get involved. Nothing will ever change if no one does anything about it...

A couple more incidents like this and we can kiss Whittier goodbye.

Jeffrey Park
www.microflight.org

12-05-2002 Over year old.

steph280
Key Veteran
Location: Irvine, California

Yes Whittier Narrows is an AMA sanction public field (one of the last in Los Angeles area may I add), and AMA insurance is REQUIRED to fly there. You actually have to bring your AMA card to one of the club members, and they will make custom frequency pins for you. And these pins are required to fly there.

Unfortunately most club members are gone by noon, so nobody is there to enforce the rule.

I used to be a regular there couple years ago. It's scary to fly in the heli section, since people scatter all over the field to fly their heli. Now with the electrics planks, it's just too crowded.

It's a high crime area too. I have seen at least 3 helis stolen from that area in the past few years. We try to get out of the place before sunset.

I have since moved back to Orange county and gave up on glow helis. Converted my fleed to all electric and am having a blast.

Stephen

12-06-2002 Over year old.

BigRob
Veteran
Location: Long Beach, CA

Don't Peak Engrish?

Yes, every aspect of R/C has their A$$holes.

"Rude Planker Pilots" was the way I described my experiences there (and other fields). I flew fixed wing out there as well as helis.

First time I went out there I had a plane. No problems, I was even invited over to sit on the North Side of the pits. Had a good ole time, enjoyable conversation the fixed wing guys and the heli guys on the south end.

Couple weeks later went back with my heli only and sat where I sat before because I wanted to talk to Ron about his SG300 mods. For some reason not too many of the fixed wing guys associated with me that well. I felt so uncomfortable. I moved to the south end with the rest of the heli guys. Which I admit, I should of went anyways because it was closer to the hover section.

It was worse when I brought helis and planes out. I was so confused, I decided to set up in the center of pits area between the majority of fixed wing guys and heli guys.

But all in all, the heli guys never really cared what I flew, even if I just brought plane out and sat on the south end. So I just based my "rude planker" comment on my personal experience at whittier and many other fields (like PRADO).

Although I do agree, Whittier is a scary place to fly on the weekends. So I usually just avoid the place all together.

Oh yeah. Don't take for granted us brown and yellow folk don't under stand your FLUCKIN engrish. Don't be lazy to ask us SLOWER and LOUDER.

If you don't mention anything, then nothing will happen.