PipeMajor

My Feedback: (1)

Our club also has a limited number of benches and usually more pilots. It's never really been a problem. I don't use a bench unless I need to work on tuning an engine. If a routine startup and flight, I start my airplane on the ground. We also have a designated area for full throttle runups.

If I do start on a bench, I clear it so someone else can use it while I'm flying. I won't need it again until the other pilot is flying.

mclina

We have about 5-6 benches, and our Field Marshall is always reminding us that they are for starting planes, and you do not get to camp out on a bench for the day.

Most of the time it's not an issue, because there are less than 6 guys flying. When it's really busy, or during a fun fly, I will typically park my flight box at a bench, along with a couple of other guy's boxes, and leave my planes on the ground at the edge of the tall grass. I am happy to let others borrow my starter if they need it while using the bench where my stuff is parked.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

I feel justified as claiming this bench as mine. I leave my plane on it all day if I want to.

Airplanes400

My Feedback: (349)

Why use a bench to run or break-inyour engine? Just put in on your plane, make a few quick adjustments to the low & high end so you have a smooth transition, set it a little rich on the high end, then fly your plane. I've been breaking-in engines in the air for the past 20 years. There is no need to "bench-run" an engine. It only annoys everyone else who is flying. It's loud and obnixious and not necessary. If you can't adjust an engine to run smoothly in less than 5 minutes, then you don't know what you're doing.

AND ... Don't talk to me when I'm flying either. I don't want to get into a conversation or talk to anyone when I'm flying. I place all my attention on the plane when flying. Talking to me could break my concentration and possibly causeme tocrash. Anything you have to say to me is not nearly as important as flying my plane safely.

VeeAte

Our club sounds a lot smaller than what a lot of you guys are used to.
We have benches under the covered pit area for working on planes and or storing your flight box etc.

Near the flight line we have one bench you can use for starting, but 95% of the time we all use the ground. We have posts buried in the ground a couple of feet apart with pavers between then so your not kicking dirt around the place with the prop wash. So you take your plane from the pit area to just behind the flight line, start it and taxi out.

In the pit area, but out from under the roof (and a safe distance from anyone's bench/plane) we have a run-up/run-in area. If you want to start your engine to tune it or to run a new engine in you do it in this area. This way your not crowding the flight line with both noise and methanol fumes and the inevitable mess involved in running for a long time on the ground is kept to one area.

As for who gets what bench under the shaded area, thats first in best dressed. While I dont particularly like being crowded on a bench, if there is no room elsewhere I will gladly share a bench. Not only is it something I would expect from others  its a great way to get to know club members when your new or they are. (hint for the new pilots out there: If you have to share a bench with someone on your first few visits to a club ask if you can share some space with one of the older guys. Great way to learn a LOT about the hobby. Or get scowled at for leaking fuel everywhere and knocking their gear off the bench )

The older guys in the club while they dont "claim" benches they have their spots they like to setup their gear when they arrive. I personally will try to leave those benches free so the guys who have been flying for years can use them. Its a bit like how we have some benches which are shorter (closer to the ground) than others. I am 6 foot 6 so I will try to get one of the higher benches so I am not killing my back bending over the model. But I wont ***** and gripe if I have to use a lower one.


Reminds me of the guys who complain about having to park 200 ft from the pits yet they rock up at 10am! At our club if you want to park close and get a certain bench you better get there early.

A big part of this hobby is the social side of things for me. If you want to see mayhem and destruction in the pit area go to an offroad RC car race. I have seen people nearly come to blows arguing about who's bench is whose. I would much rather roll up to the club and have a good chat with my fellow club members than stand around stewing about how its the second week in a row that so and so has been on MY bench.

-pkh-

My Feedback: (2)

Well, that's your opinion, and you're certainly entitled to it.

However, most engine manufacturers recommend some bench break-in, as do many of the guys I know with 20+ years of experience. Our club has a break-in bench set far away from the flight line and picnic tables so anyone breaking in or tuning an engine will not bother the rest of us. It's also been used as a test stand to debug glitching and other radio problems while the engine is running.

goirish

WoW!!!! I guess sometimes with a brand new engine I don't know what I am doing. It takes me longer than that to tune it in RIGHT.

KitBuilder

The "starting" benches at our field are just that.. "Starting" benches...... not places to park your stuff for the day so there is no issue.  However we have long tables under canopies where people can put their stuff when not flying.  Most keep their planes on the ground and move to the bench to prepare for flight.

Mike

Adui

Well, I read this from beginning to end. All I can say is I must be a member of the absolute best club in the country! I have NEVER seen anyone argue over a bench, or for that matter get upset if someone wanted to share something. Generally if someone in the pits needs something, be it a clevis or a bench to start the plane on everyone there is all about helping (Of course the pilots who have birds up are all about their aircraft, but that is as it should be.)

I will admit, outside of club events its a rare day when more than 6 of our 8 or 10 benches are in use at the same time. But even so, we just enjoy the hobby, and the camaraderie rather than fight over a silly piece of wood. For me, perhaps because of my clubs amount of blessings, I set up on my bench, and its mine till I leave. However, If we were to get overcrowded I would happily share both the bench and my gear if another wanted it. If i was flying, and someone set there plane on "my" bench I would simply put mine on the ground while I rested and waited for my next turn at the flight line.

Pecanpatch

This whole thread is why Ibought acreage and fly in my own back yard...... Usally a bunch of old codgers whining about who is doing what....
screaming at you to "fly the pattern"
It's nothing for me to sit on the ground and crank my plane if my table is being used.... and Iown it and the field!

My posted rules on the frequency board has one rule "No Cry Babies"

Alex7403

can you start an engine on this bench?
i'm looking for something like this where did you get that from?

thanks for the replies guys its sure put things in perspective.
never fought and never will fight over a bench.

Alex

sportrider_fz6

wow I hate itwhen that happens... I posted how we do it at my field but I must have been long winded cause it timed out. oh well... to sum it up we share.

jimmyjames213

My Feedback: (2)

if you hit the back button after it gives you that screen, it should display what you had writen. (mine does)

 copy it, go back to the thread, and try to reply again

VeeAte

If you get the timeout error message press Back in your browser and all that you typed will be there still in the Fast Reply box.
Highlight it all and hit copy. Then press Post Reply at the bottom of the thread page and past it into the Reply box.

Has saved me typing stuff out again.

Edit:Beaten by Jimmy.

Well said Adui. I have lost count of the amount of times I have needed to borrow a hex wrench or a small part like a clevis etc at our club. You usually have two or three people rummaging through their flight box to help out. Same with props and anything else you can think of.
I will gladly hand over bits and pieces to keep a fellow modeller in the air.

Thats one thing I like about this hobby. Everyone I have come across is more than willing to help. This is one thing that makes this sport great.
Everyone socialising and having fun.

landeck

My Feedback: (1)

The stand is made by Midwest. You can find it here:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXAR02&P=SM

I would not recommend starting a plane on it.


Bruce

Platinum

Look what we have at my club:http://picasaweb.google.com/huneault...14533822566690

Platinum

KitBuilder

We have similar but the poles are a bit closer together for the horizontal sta fit behind.... less chance of the plane wanting to lift the tail and nose over and breaking a prop or worse..

Unfortunately some youth decided they were bored recently... Good thing they were stupid and left behind apaper with thier name and school on it.
Mike

RegFlyer

Mike, when you catch them you sould have them build you all new starting benches. and have there folks pay for all the lumber and building costs. if that dont work go old school



we have 4 or 5 starting tables at my field, and i have only seen them used for shade, and cup holders.
I use a 1/2 dowl waped in foam. it holds my .40 just fine.

Tom Nied

The field I fly at only has two starting benches.  I only feel comfortable using them when I need to work on a plane.  Otherwise, I'd rather start on the ground with my own plane restraint.

Someone talking to you while you're flying is wrong.  They should wait until you have landed.  It's a courtesy thing.  When I flew Indoor Free Flight, I would just ignore anybody talking to me when I was preparing a plane or flying.  You need your full concentration.  I think a guys concentration should be respected.

Take care of sharing the bench after you have landed.  Just my opinion.

MetallicaJunkie

at my club we share the starting stands,   we have too many flyers for each one to claim their own stand..... The starting stands belong to the club as a whole, and are used for starting ,not to park your plane while not flying. There are sometimes 2-3 field boxes at each stand and we havent had any troubles.... if all the stands are hogged up, i just start it on the ground.                Some of us need to grow up

Sourkraut

When you find the little vandals, they should be given a public caneing!!! At the very least,, they should have to correct all the damages and cut all the grass at the field and keep it clean for the summer.

JMHO

Curt

VeeAte

By the end of that summer whats the bet they are begging to be taught how to fly,

Joystick TX

opjose

If you take the bench home with you when you leave, then it's "Yours" to do with as you like even if others are around.

However if you've built heavy benches and leave them at the field, even if only overnight, they are club or field property for all intents and purposes.

If someone else tries to use them, just be glad that something you built is that useful.

Our club members build jet exhaust deflectors, tables, benches, etc... and all are club/field property. No one is arrogant about someone else using "their" tables nor complains about it.

Your idea to build something portable is a good one. That avoids conflicts and establishes your "territory".

PA BEN

My two cents. you have 10 tables. Do 10 people fly at the same time? If your not flying and you see someone who might want to use a bench, ask if thet would like to use it. We never have an issue at our Club.