Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
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Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
I'm worried that my B-17 will weigh over 55 pounds. I weighed in about 60 pounds. Will I have to get it checked, or can I pass by a few pounds.
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
A simple answer is no, you can't get by with a few extra pounds. Your B-17 will to meet the requirements spelled out in the AMA Experimental RC Aircraft Program (see AMA document 520-a [link]http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/520-a.pdf[/link]).
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
I'm presumming that is the Don Smith B17 you mention in your other threads. They typically weigh in around 45 to 50lbs. Perhaps you have miscalculated or your scale if off.
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
ORIGINAL: Arbo
Depends if you are an AMA member in an AMA sanctioned club, or if you are a renegade.
Depends if you are an AMA member in an AMA sanctioned club, or if you are a renegade.
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
ORIGINAL: LargeScale88
I'm worried that my B-17 will weigh over 55 pounds. I weighed in about 60 pounds. Will I have to get it checked, or can I pass by a few pounds.
I'm worried that my B-17 will weigh over 55 pounds. I weighed in about 60 pounds. Will I have to get it checked, or can I pass by a few pounds.
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
Yes, it's very critical. The moment you lift off the ground weighing more than 55 pounds, the Earth's magnetic field will reverse, and a time/space wormhole will appear at the spot you broke ground. All life as we know it will cease to exist, being instantly sucked into a vortex that time itself cannot escape.
Or...
You can file for that experimental certificate them other guys told you about and all is good again.
Or...
You can file for that experimental certificate them other guys told you about and all is good again.
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
Is this plane for the new AMA approved paintball event posted tonight? Staggers the imagination, you can shoot at model aircraft hoping to disable it at 60mph, but don't you dare tip the scales too much.
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
ORIGINAL: LargeScale88
I'm worried that my B-17 will weigh over 55 pounds. I weighed in about 60 pounds. Will I have to get it checked, or can I pass by a few pounds.
I'm worried that my B-17 will weigh over 55 pounds. I weighed in about 60 pounds. Will I have to get it checked, or can I pass by a few pounds.
#12
RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
Since there is no expectation that clubs or CD's check for anything other then valid AMA membership or enforce the rules, it is (yes this is a direct answer from the AMA) the responsibility of the individual to comply.
Brad
Brad
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
ORIGINAL: bradpaul
Since there is no expectation that clubs or CD's check for anything other then valid AMA membership or enforce the rules, it is (yes this is a direct answer from the AMA) the responsibility of the individual to comply.
Brad
Since there is no expectation that clubs or CD's check for anything other then valid AMA membership or enforce the rules, it is (yes this is a direct answer from the AMA) the responsibility of the individual to comply.
Brad
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
As a CD I will ask for the waiver. And yes I will accept the pilots word on the weight. Getting the waiver is always a good idea, if nothing else it's a good idea to have someone else that really knows big planes go over your work and setup and give you his blessing. Dennis
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
Dennis, that is exactly what happened in my case. The inspector was very thorough and spotted a few small items that needed to be corrected. After these were corrected there was a second inspection and all items passed. I would expect that there is a big difference in inspectors but I'm glad we had one of the best. The mandatory flights went off just fine. After all that I had a good feeling about the safety of our airplane. This has proven out in practice.
As you can imagine from my comments, I am a strong advocate of the AMA Experimental Aircraft program.
There is one large RC club in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area that has voted to exclude 55 to 100 pound planes from flying at their field even with the required AMA waiver. Of course, they have the right to do this but it just doesn't seem right to me. Fortunately there are several other fields in the area where we can fly this plane.
As you can imagine from my comments, I am a strong advocate of the AMA Experimental Aircraft program.
There is one large RC club in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area that has voted to exclude 55 to 100 pound planes from flying at their field even with the required AMA waiver. Of course, they have the right to do this but it just doesn't seem right to me. Fortunately there are several other fields in the area where we can fly this plane.
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
from BP:
Since there is no expectation that clubs or CD's check for anything other then valid AMA membership or enforce the rules
Since there is no expectation that clubs or CD's check for anything other then valid AMA membership or enforce the rules
"enforce the rules" ???????
what 'rules' do we expect them to enforce?
Jan 2010 AMA SC #4
The maximum takeoff weight of a model aircraft, including fuel, is 55 pounds, except for those flown under the AMA Experimental Aircraft Rules.
The maximum takeoff weight of a model aircraft, including fuel, is 55 pounds, except for those flown under the AMA Experimental Aircraft Rules.
is this the ole Comma Game again?
Opt A: no expectation that clubs or CD's check for anything (other then valid AMA membership or enforce the rules)
Opt B: no expectation that clubs or CD's check for anything (other then valid AMA membership) or enforce the rules
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
I'm a CD of a GS event and we get planes over the 55lbs. There has never been a problem. If it wasn't for the cost of a new trailer I'd probility have one. This hobby is based in trust. I trust that i can leave my radio on the table and find it there hours later. If a pilot tells me 54lbs, he's only cheating himself if he's over. He signs the paper work that states the plane is legal. If there is a problem it's all on him not me or the club. If you weigh the plane and it's over and you fudge on the weight your the only looser. Dennis
#18
RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
Well, it may not be an issue moving forward since it would not surprise me at all if the FAA made 55 pounds the absolute limit for model aircraft operations. Hopefully they will still allow an AMA-type waiver program, but it would not surprise me if they did not.
#20
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
Its a numbers game.
Way more small planes vs large ones.
So small will crash more. Also small is where the beginner starts typically and they crash more than expereinced (I hope!).
The FAA/Govt is going to ruin this hobby by lumping us with UAV's.........
Way more small planes vs large ones.
So small will crash more. Also small is where the beginner starts typically and they crash more than expereinced (I hope!).
The FAA/Govt is going to ruin this hobby by lumping us with UAV's.........
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
ORIGINAL: Big_Bird
There is one large RC club in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area that has voted to exclude 55 to 100 pound planes from flying at their field even with the required AMA waiver.
There is one large RC club in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area that has voted to exclude 55 to 100 pound planes from flying at their field even with the required AMA waiver.
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
ORIGINAL: KidEpoxy
what 'rules' do we expect them to enforce?
what 'rules' do we expect them to enforce?
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
Arbo,
I was referring to the phrasing that we should not expect the CD to do do stuff.
If I bring a turbine to an event, should I 'expect' to have the CD/SO/Staff inspect my turbine papers?
Or should I not bother bringing the turbine waiver because there is 'no expectation' of the CD enforcing the rules?
The rules (aka SafetyCode) say no planes over 55(*),
should we 'expect' event staff to enforce this rule at their meets?
I was referring to the phrasing that we should not expect the CD to do do stuff.
If I bring a turbine to an event, should I 'expect' to have the CD/SO/Staff inspect my turbine papers?
Or should I not bother bringing the turbine waiver because there is 'no expectation' of the CD enforcing the rules?
The rules (aka SafetyCode) say no planes over 55(*),
should we 'expect' event staff to enforce this rule at their meets?
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
If there ever was an insurance claim type accident with an over weight model...who's ever gonna know it was over weight and needed further inspection? There's going to be chunks of that plane scattered all over Hell and half of Georgia.
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RE: Is 55 pounds extremely critical?
ORIGINAL: combatpigg
If there ever was an insurance claim type accident with an over weight model...who's ever gonna know it was over weight and needed further inspection? There's going to be chunks of that plane scattered all over Hell and half of Georgia.
If there ever was an insurance claim type accident with an over weight model...who's ever gonna know it was over weight and needed further inspection? There's going to be chunks of that plane scattered all over Hell and half of Georgia.
The big ones breakup just about the same way as the under 55 lb, birds do. It just takes the extra strength plastic bags for the parts.
Having spent several years flying over 55 lb planes plus being in the company of several others doing the same I find the heavy iron to be way less dramatic than the much smaller and much faster planes being flown under marginal control and with little thought as to what the next move will be.
There are a couple of 75 lb planes in my gallery pictures for reference.