Originally Posted by
Condor060
Mr. Quique and Mr. Ribbe were showing off their new Flex Innovations aircraft while hovering on the electric flight line without spotters. They caused the crash of two of our FMS show aircraft on two separate occasions two hours apart.
They have ignored our continued request to discuss options to replace the downed aircraft to the point where we finally filed formal complaints with the AMA.
If you were on the electric flight line and witnessed either of these events you are encouraged to post your thoughts.
Just because you are an RC celebrity it doesn't give you the right to claim the flight line as your own and it certainly doesn't safeguard you from being liable for irresponsible actions.
Below is a formal copy of the complaint filed with the AMA. My question is, if they are willing to treat fellow show team members like this on the flight line, why would anyone expect them to act different if they purchased a new Flex Innovations aircraft from them?
I guess its buyer beware.
Mrs. Ilona Maine
Safety and Member Benefits Director
Academy of Model Aeronautics
From: Fred Culbertson
CEO Condor Aerial
Monroe, NC
Gavin Woodruff
Rincon, GA
Dear Mrs. Maine,
My name is Fred Culbertson. I have been an AMA member for 35 years (on and off) and this is the first time in all my years I felt the need to contact the AMA about a safety or negligence issue regarding another AMA member. I currently own a company (www.CondorAerial.com) which provides drones to federal law enforcement so as you might conclude I have a lot of years invested in the RC community.
Additionally I am a sponsored pilot for Hitec and Dymond USA. During the Joe Nall events over the years my show team provides a daily warbird formation flights on the electric line. It is usually in the afternoon when we are all finished working on vendor row. It is sometimes 4 aircraft and at times up to 8. These aircraft are FMS 1700mm Mustangs/P-47s/Corsairs covered in flite metal with unique on board sound systems to replicate the engine and machine gun sounds of that era. They are all custom aircraft with many hours invested.
My complaint involves two current AMA members (Mr. Quique Somenzini and Mr. David Ribbe) Both individuals have acquired many accolades to their credit including multiple world champion recognition and currently own a company called Flex Innovations. (www.Flexinnovations.com) They have combined their efforts to market a new electric aircraft made for professional 3D events. You can review their individual accomplishments here.http://www.flexinnovations.com/index.php/about-us
On Thursday afternoon (May 14th around 5pm) the Dymond USA/Diamond Hobby/FMS team pilots and I brought 5 mustangs to the electric flight line to do our formation flight. We waited about 20 minutes until we could get the field for the flight. Once in the air we made 3 low passes in formation. Our next pass would be to land.
As you may (or may not know) the Joe Nall electric flight line is strictly pattern only. 3D flights are prohibited and every pilot is required to have a spotter during flight. I have flown on this flight line for many years and rules for this event are very clear.
As the formation team was on the downwind leg of the flight Mr. David Ribbe (without any verbal take off warning to the other pilots) put his new Flex Innovations plane in the air and began to hover and complete other 3D maneuvers over the runway in front of his pilot station. I didn’t know who it was so I asked the team to make a high pass over the hovering plane so we could get him to move the aircraft so we could land.
After many calls out for landing from me and others the hovering plane continued to do harriers and other low maneuvers. As I was watching Mr. Ribbes plane (as well as the team flight) I was walking closer to get Mr. Ribbes attention. Between the confusion of watching his plane coming closer to the team, yelling out we are trying to land, noting the position of Mr. Ribbes plane in conjunction with the formation, and the flight of 5 identical mustangs switching positions I lost my show mustang in the chaos. It was a total loss.
I have 3 years and well over 300 flights on this aircraft performing at numerous RC events.
I walked over to Mr. Ribbe at his pilot station (where he stood alone without a spotter) and in a pretty angry voice told him to move his plane so the team could land. My guys were out of battery so they had to take their chances landing under Mr. Ribbe. Even as I am pointing out to him the formation trying to land (which is now rolling under Mr. Ribbes plane) he doesn’t see the problem.
When I confronted Mr. Ribbe about his flight during our passes he said he never heard anyone yelling for a landing and if he saw one of our planes landing he would have moved. I pointed out that when I came up to him on the flight line they were landing underneath him and he never moved. I asked him why he was hovering on the electric flight line in the first place and he said it was accepted this year. When I asked him why he didn’t have a spotter he said we just have to agree to disagree.
In my opinion there is no way Mr. Ribbe was able to walk to the flight line without seeing the formation flight or the people watching the show. Furthermore, to launch a hovering aircraft in the middle of the runway during our flight is unreasonable at best. The fact that he had no spotter and was unable to hear us yelling landing is not an excuse and poor judgment. He was just looking to cash in on the crowd we attracted to the flight line at a cost of everyone’s safety risk.
After my discussion with Mr. Ribbe I thought it would be better if this was addressed outside the event so I didn’t approach him again. Chris Champion and I were flying for Hitec at the time and Diamond Hobbies and FMS had their own pilots with aircraft in this formation. They all have come to the same conclusion.
Two hours later on the very same flight line my team takes off for another formation flight. After two passes Mr. Quique launches another Flex Innovations aircraft and begins hovering over the runway. Again, without a spotter or calling for a takeoff. The team was yelling to move the hovering aircraft but their request were again ignored. This time it resulted in a collision of Mr. Woodruffs P-51 Mustang and Mr. Quique’s Flex Innovations aircraft and another total destruction of one of our FMS show planes. Mr. Quique landed his plane with minor damage.
The general consensus is that Mr. Ribbe and Mr, Quique can do what they want because they are RC celebrities. If they wanted to show off their new aircraft I am sure ANY flight line at Joe Nall would accommodate them. That goes without saying. The fact that they feel they can jump on the electric line for a Flex Innovation stage to hover aircraft during our formation flight and not use a spotter with total disregard for his fellow pilots on the flight line is just irresponsible and negligent at best.
My disappointment is directed at the attitude of Mr. Ribbe and Mr. Quique about the situation as well as their arrogance in refusing to yield to the flight team during our formation flight as well as their total disregard for the aircraft we lost. We never received so much as an apology.
I sent Mr. Ribbe and Mr. Quique two emails asking them to discuss the incident over the last two weeks and they refuse to even acknowledge our request.
My cost on the plane, FMS 1700mm Mustang $439, speed controller, $150, battery, $125, sound system and speakers $245 totals $959. This does not include the 70 + hours installing flite metal. I am not sure as to Mr. Woodruffs total loss but you can at least count on the replacement of another FMS warbird for $439. I don’t know about his speed controller and battery.
I will be more than happy to provide you with pictures of the plane and equipment. The battery shorted out burning the sound card and speed controller. I had to put a larger speed controller in the plane because we advanced the blade pitch and the stock speed controller that came with the plane can’t handle the extra amp draw on the motor.
I spoke with Mr. Mike Gregory who is the CD for the Joe Nall event. He confirmed the fact that 3D flying on the electric line is in direct violation of the rules set forth by the event and flying without spotters is prohibited. He also asked that I give him a written statement as to the situation which I provided. Mr. Gregory was most apologetic and called a meeting with the directors of Joe Nall about the two accidents. He also knew of the two accidents involving Mr. Ribbe and Mr. Quique prior to my phone call as other pilots were complaining as well. He said next year he plans on having more air bosses on the line with very strict rules of how the electric flight line will be run and the behavior of Mr. Quique and Mr. Ribbe is unacceptable.
Since Mr. Ribbe and Mr. Quique are ignoring our request for discussion it is more apparent they feel above the situation and are above reproach. I notified them both we were going to file a complaint with AMA which obviously is of no concern to them as they continue to ignore our repeated request to discuss the situation. This type of self-serving behavior from experienced national champions at the largest RC event on the east coast in front of a host of spectators is inexcusable and negligent and unfortunately sets the standard for other AMA members.
Fred Culbertson
Gavin Woodruff
CC Mr. Mike Gregory
Joe Nall CD
We have started replacing the first mustang that went down. About a week worth of work so far.
This will probably not go as you had planned, I would suggest deleting it all and I'll do the same with my comments too. I suspect it will get ugly, it already looks ugly. A vendor complaining about a competitor, making lots of assumptions and unfounded innuendos, speaking on behalf of others, and not appearing to take any responsibility for his own actions. Yikes, get the popcorn ready.
I might have missed it, but where were your spotters? You said everyone is required to have one, did your flight team each have one as well? What were they doing while this all went down? If you didn't have them why. If you did, it seems as though they failed at their job.
If I read your comments right, while flying your plane you started watching the other plane, then began to try to talk with the other pilot, then started walking over to him and then started speaking angrily to him telling him to land the plane (while he is still flying). All the while you are also flying but then you "lost your mustang in the chaos". It sure sounded chaotic. It seems like you were the only one who lost a plane as well, the other planes were all able to land. If I'm not mistaken, it's a pretty size able runway....should anyone feel panicked about landing there? If I got the facts right, do you think there is
anything you could have done differently? Do you think any of your actions contributed to the demise of your Mustang?
There are always two sides to every story, and then the truth. Here we have only your side and it's far from factual. You've made lot's of opinion based comments (that you might want to revise once you cool down) that I think diminish your credibility. Yes, that's my opinion based solely on what I've read. Here's mainly why:
"why would anyone expect them to act different if they purchased a new Flex Innovations aircraft from them?"
What? Has nothing to do with anything, just a transparent knock on another vendor.
"He was just looking to cash in on the crowd we attracted to the flight line at a cost of everyone’s safety risk" (you own a company and make a comment like that about someone else?)
"They all have come to the same conclusion" Are you authorized to speak on their behalf? Why aren't they here telling everyone what happened? Did you tell them you were going to do this?
"The general consensus is that Mr. Ribbe and Mr, Quique can do what they want because they are RC celebrities". General concensus among who? Was a petition or declaration signed to this effect? 
"The fact that they feel they can jump on the electric line for a Flex Innovation stage to hover aircraft during our formation flight and not use a spotter with total disregard for his fellow pilots on the flight line is just irresponsible and negligent at best" There is nothing here to prove they did this, nor showed intentional disregard.
"My disappointment is directed at the attitude of Mr. Ribbe and Mr. Quique about the situation as well as their arrogance in refusing to yield to the flight team during our formation flight as well as their total disregard for the aircraft we lost. We never received so much as an apology" This I think gets the heart of the matter....some lingering anger issues over not being told "sorry" Would that have made it better?
"Since Mr. Ribbe and Mr. Quique are ignoring our request for discussion it is more apparent they feel above the situation and are above reproach" No, they probably feel like this was at best an accident and having been yelled at by you while they were flying, they probably feel like it's best to not engage.
So you took the complaint to the CD of the event and he called a meeting after getting your written statements. And then what? What happened? Did he speak to the other parties? Other than having more airbosses next year, what did he say. If he, and the directors felt there had been such reckless disregard here by the other two pilots, what do you think they should/could have done with them? Are you not upset with the CD as well?
What do you expect to accomplish with a complaint to the AMA?
Since you posted in a public forum, you're going to get opinions. It's nothing personal, you now have mine. I don't know any of the parties involved, but I think it was really poor form and execution on your part to do what you have done. I'm guessing you might feel like people will take the other parties side because you perceive them as some type of celebrities. Perhaps that will happen but I don't think so.
I'd delete it all.......I don't think you will accomplish anything positive here.