ORIGINAL: Davie-RCU
Here in the UK, we are all issued with insurance from all the modeling bodies wich state in the rule book (clearly printed) that no model upto 7 Kgs (15 lbs) should be flown at a distance closer than 30 Meters from any person, property and if the model is over & kgs (15 Lbs) this should be increased to 50 Meters with the model only that distance coming down to 30 meters wilst taking off and landing. So with this in mind and as the Pilot is a person, Guess we have some very long armed peolpe flying 3D being able to touch their model in flight. As for sending your buddy out to a model to touch it for you . . . . . . . . Are these guys insane !!!!????!!!! As for doing something just because a "TOP" flyer does it . . . . . That's not right or are you a lemming ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
You missed two important points to this rule:
1) It only applies to public displays. This separation rule does not apply to normal club flying.
2) It only applies to spectators. Pilots, callers, flightline controllers etc are allowed in the 30 metre safety zone, but should not cross over the flightline.
Having said that I do think lots of good points are being raised in this and the AMD v 3D thread (despite the whinning).
At the moment I cant hover well enough to ethier touch the tail on the ground or catch/touch the plane while in mid air, so for me it is rather all academic.
On the other hand, I doubt I would be willing to do either anyway. I don't wish to damage my plane banging the tail on the ground, and I don't beleive that taking my hands of my tranny at any moment when I am needing all four control imputs is anything other than a stupid thing to do.
However, I see no problem with getting the tail to knock free moving items (eg balloons) or getting someone else (assuming know what they are doing, in terms of both ability and risk) catching a plane out of the air.
There is risk, and then there is being plain dumb. The AMA rule is attempting to determine where the cross over is. And we are argueing whether they have got it right or not. Personally I don't think they have, but it needs amending, not throwing out or ignoring.