at101

A saying we have around here is that PETAstands for People Eating Tasty Animals

Dustflyer

My Feedback: (13)

I can appreciate the humor about commercial airliners flying at 200 feet and what not, but have any of you guys considered a scenario where a runaway RC jet keeps climbing into the clouds? There are any number of failures that could cause that to occur. In such a scenario, with five or ten minutes of fuel on board and a model jet climbing wings level, it is well within the realm of possibility for a model jet to reach an altitude that would be a threat to a full scale airplane flying IFR. Don't forget, we are not just talking about airliners, but small general aviation aircraft flying IFR in the clouds as well.

Just for kicks, I pulled out some low altitude charts just to see what the MEA's (minimum enroute altitudes) were on some typical low altitude Victor routes. In the state of New Jersey, I found some as low as 1800 feet. That's above sea level, not above the ground. The ground is about 100' above sea level below those routes. That means an airplane could be flying along at 1700' AGL, fat dumb and happy in the clouds, secure in the knowledge ATC is guaranteeing separation from other air traffic. Smacking into a runaway model jet doing 200 mph would put quite a damper on a pilot's day.

Yes, I know, the same thing can happen on a clear day. The difference is that on a clear day you have your model in sight, at least before it goes out of control. If you are goofing off flying your jet in the clouds, you don't.

As RC jet pilots, we are by our very nature flying by visual flight rules, VFR. Whether you are flying a Cessna 150 or a Boeing 767 under VFR, you are required to stay clear of clouds.

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

Someone once told me if my aunt had balls shed be my uncle.

this thread reminds me of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK3GO...eature=related

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK3GOFqVSyI&feature=related[/youtube]

avidflyguy

My Feedback: (48)

I'm a pilot and an rc flyer also and its irresponsible to put an rc model anywhere you can't see it well (clouds or too far away) i fly at 2 different fields and i have seen stuff that made the hair on back of my neck stand up, once a lear jet with USAF markings flew about 4-500 altitude about 1/4 mile north of our field while i had my sig king kobra up in the air, scared the crap outta me. nearest airport was 7 miles west of this rc field and he was way below pattern altitude at the time and we also fly at another location where we do on rare occasion see Air National Guard C-130s doing low altitude scud training runs 2-300 feet off the ground. these have come within 1/2 mile of that particular rc field. Pretty spectaculer to see them, not so much when i'm in the air with them. I flew ultralights quite often also and i have often thought about what if i see these guys while i'm up there floating around, hate to get run over by a c-130, I fly primarily light sport/experimental type aircraft now called avid-flyer, plus i'm also building another avid

FILE IFR

+1

I can't believe that a couple of people disregard the AMA rule and/or downplay their actions.

hooker53

My Feedback: (106)

LMAORAITF. Ha. Ha. This made my night. Lol.

knighttwister

My Feedback: (59)

All i can say about this thread is WOW and

wisdom often falls on deaf ears.

AlmondRancher

Safety first.

- Allan B

indubitably

My Feedback: (14)

[quote]ORIGINAL: jetpilot


Scott
Thats mean, and there is not a reason in the world to do that, not to a fellow flier. And maybe im mean to call you on this, but i will erase this as soon as you see it.
John

Boomerang1

The truly superior pilot uses his superior judgement to avoid
situations where he will have to use his superior skills. - ANON.

John.

Allen Key

[quote]ORIGINAL: sailing1

What?????
Arn't all pilots in the UK IFR rated?
/quote]

If the BMFA have their way, we'll be IFR, & ATPL rated; and that's without taking precautions before cloud penetration!

pmerritt

My Feedback: (118)

Seems to me that if one is flying a RC airplane where they can hit a commercial airplane at 250 or even 400 feet, they must be flying on the tarmac!

The best time to chase a bird is when you have the money to buy a new plane.  Ask Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger, III.  Make sure you're by a river and take water landing lessons first.

Low clouds are awesome.  Straight up, once out of sight, kill the sticks, then let gravity and luck be on your side.  I sure wouldn't approach them on a horizontal path but wow, the thrill of finding her before the ground does is incredible.  (only try this at your local renegade field). 

Ok...Pandora's box is now open.  Come get me!

Dustflyer

My Feedback: (13)

"A good pilot needs superior judgement, so he never needs to demonstrate superior airmanship!"

basimpsn

My Feedback: (5)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12CDQ5UlLGU&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...XGhVbPD8g&NR=1

-JC-

My Feedback: (26)

Once upon a time, on a day with a MASIVE overcast, the most heinous crime in all RC aviation history would be committed…

The dreaded, FAA, CAA, FBI, TSA, GAPA and RCU prohibited REAR CLOUD PENETRATION!!!

Sorry Guys Please be Good!!!???
Mod's

-JC-

My Feedback: (26)

Who knows what these massive clouds could possibly hide? An Airbus 380 at cruise altitude at FL0002? Maybe the lost Squadron 19, missing in the Bermuda Triangle? Or, a squadron of Red Tail Mustangs??? The lives of hundreds, if not thousands are at risk.

-JC-

My Feedback: (26)

After about 1/10th of a second, but what must have felt like hours of uncontrolled IFR flying, the offending RC jet miraculously reappears. Dumb luck, or could it be a miracle, an amazing act of God?

-JC-

My Feedback: (26)

In the meantime, the GAPA members where thumping their chests like a cage full of Zoo buffoons, and the verdict was a collective. STONE HIM, blasphemy, call the FAA… Because, after all, a certain group of RCU full size flyers simply can’t post here without letting us know how special they are, and how much safer and better they are at flying toy airplanes BECAUSE… they are REAL pilots and flew the Hawker Numbnuts with RAF in WW1 or can recite 2564 FAA and CAA regulations. PLUS… They can QUOTE what others wrote so it will NEVER go away. How F-ing special you are.

Girls, its time for you to go get a pedicure or a Brazilian wax. At least do something to make your day more interesting.

Erik R

My Feedback: (32)

You're a class act John !!

pmerritt

My Feedback: (118)

John,  that AA pilot just flew me to San Franciso and he went through hundreds of clouds!  I thought I heard him hit four 60 sized planes on the landing.   I think I'll sue!

erbroens

The force is strong with this one.. congrats for your nice save!




Talking about flying fast and high with clouds around.. just uploaded a short video of the SHS and a friend´s Flash in Argentina this weekend. See if you can spot the airplane, lol.


It was a awesome meeting, and I will upload some pics and info from there soon.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dg3...4&feature=plcp

jetpilot

My Feedback: (48)

Man, john that was a close one!
Lmao!
Hilarious.
Some people take themselves way too serious
probably pretending to call tower before takeoff and landing.
Dreaming up all these what if scenarios with a sky is falling mentality.
I been watching john fly for the last 10-12 year's and hes one of the best pilots I know.
You've never met or seen john fly if you think he's irresponsible.
That's the real humor in this thread.
Scott

drdoom

My Feedback: (9)

Sure one wasn't a .15 size foamy??

GerKonig

This thread is hilarious! The cloud penetration act is a classic, and will live on forever.

Besides, the OP is from England. He lives there!

Cut him a break! In England they know the sky is blue, because they saw it on pictures (taken in another country, of course).

If you are standing on the ground in England, above you, you have some air (not much), and then clouds. That's it, clouds. The swallows are IFR rated in Merry Old... They always fly in clouds! They spend days penetrating clouds. Nothing but clouds there... Normally when they have thunder and lightning, lightning does not hit property, because it cannot see the ground! Lightning moves up, and sideways (because of the penetrated clouds)!

Good that no cloud was hurt during the event. A shame we do not have a penetration video, but most likely it would be edited bu the local censors...

Gerry

RickBoyer

My Feedback: (37)

Class act for sure. Christensen is very good on the sticks and one of the turbine guys to beat at Top Gun.... always a leader of the pack. Wish I had his flight scores. John flew the sh#t out of his t-33 this year. Hope to see it again in '13.

Rick

Top Gun 2004-20012
Pitts Special S-1S (#1)
Ryan STA
Pitts Special S-1S (#2)