Hi ya'll,
My 2 cents> those who say they had or watched C/L models fly away had or saw a rarity
which has bappened and surly will again.
The flyaway can be dangerous but at least seeing it is a warning to be carefuk,
Far nore serious is breakage in flight, this is an instantaneous happening whicj can be a disaster
if the loose model is a fast one. no tme to react During my C/L experience I watched two such
instances. One at a speed meet, the other during a NATS public demonstration.
At the meet a Dooling 60 speed model was in flight, cars were allowed to park close to the
circles, nose in. One contestant was parked opposite the active circle. He had gonr to the trunk
of his car for a prop and was coming back betwrrn the two cars when the Doolong left the lines.
He must have saw it happen because he ducked his head to one side, unfortunately right into
the path of the errant model. As you might think, the spinner caught him between the eyes
and the result of that is predetermined?
The result of his death raised a ruckus and there were C/L rule changes as a result.

The other happening was stupid, gave a R/C
. pilot a headache but that was about all the damage.
On the closing Sundays of NATS meets the AMA had a habit of roping off a convient area and
inviting the public to approach. In this area they would demonstrate flying various model phases.
This time they had a well known C/L pilot flying a stunt type. In the same area an R/C pilot
had taken off and was concentrating on his aitborn aircraft,
Somehow. as the C/L model was approaxhing the R/C pilot's side of the circle the pilot lost the
control handle. As if programed the lose model headed straight for thre R/C pilot whose back
was towatds the flyaway. He must gave heard the model coming as he quickly turned his head
far enough so that the model struck the side of his head knocking him down and out.His was a
rudder only with a ground based TX, the signaling button being on the end of a cord. Fortunately
being an earlr on R/C it was slow enough so that his helper grabbed the signal cord and saved the craft. Not so with the pilot, his head also hit the pavement when he fell resulting in serious
concussions A latter report suggested that he recovered OK after several hospital days.
Does something glare at you with these reports? To me it was immediuate now, "Murphy's
Law" says if it will it will and always in the most serious way?
Would think there are others with similiar happenujngs. Perhaps a detailed report of some of
them would not only be intereting but serve to drive home an impoortant factor.
Safety with any type of model should be a prime consideration that if adherred to could prevent
a tragic experience for us to live with or suffer from!
Hows zat?

Hal deBolt