I know this is pretty dumb, sort of like covering yourself in blood and jumping in a shark cage, but I would like to throw in my two cents as well. In the past year I have seen things done at fun flys that have scared me a heck of alot more than a newbie with a trainer. This past year after hours I saw guys with 33% and 1/4 scale 3-D planes hovering and doing tail touches within 30 feet of spectators with no barrier between the planes and the fascinated onlookers. I have seen guys flying helis within 50 feet of onlookers with no barrier. I have seen guys hovering over the runway with other planes in the pattern, some in total disregard for those flying the pattern.
Now before I sound like I am complaining about these guys, let me clarify. I am not so much complaining about their activites, because I know they are just having fun. What I do see is a "target rich" environment for a plaintiff's attorney should an accident occur. How big will the headlines be when a large scale aerobatic airplane goes out control into a crowded group of kids stanidng near a fun-flier totally mesmerized by what they are seeing? Or for that matter any plane? I am hopefully a new turbine waiver holder, and I jumped through hoops for 6 months to complete a very simple procedure to get this waiver. My activites are certainly safer for doing so. I am more aware of the dangers involved. I am more aware of where spectators are standing when I fire up my jet. I double check everything. I have demonstrated my ability to handle a technically complex piece of equipment which I know is capable of inflicting serious harm to both me and others. Now I fly lots of different things, including giant scale planes, and I feel safer around my turbine than I do around a 20 inch carbon fiber prop. Do not take the safety issues for granted. The insuarance companies are watching us carefully, among others. We have to police ourselves, or sooner or later we will lose our insurance coverage. The rules are there for a purpose, they are not so much for the many as they are for the few. I know I work in a field where the least little thing will put your hiney in the defendant's corner. The only refuge we have is to practive a "CYA" policy.
Well there you go, I covered my self in kerosene, and handed you the lighter.
Fire away.
Tommy