Hi everyone,

Well today was the first time I managed to touch the tail of my plane on the ground and continue to fly. It was with my IFO, and all without a rudder! Awesome!! I dont even consider myself good at 3D or anything, so this is very cool.
I did crash a few times, managed to wreck the spur gear on my GWS gearbox, and bent the shaft but its all worth it! Man APC electric props are tough...
Anyway I have still a long way to go....Anyone else this excited with their first tail touch?

Stefan

Do U know taht tail touching is illegal?

What, with an IFO? you are having a laugh!

Why is it illegal? I do not remember any laws being passed that makes this a criminal act. It is only a RULE for planes flown at an AMA field. I bet he was at home or a park with the IFO

Great job on the tail touch!

Welcome to the world of outlaws!

....... in New Zealand...........probably not against the rules.................



Congrats on your tail touch! I was so pumped when I did my first one, what a rush!

do you guys mean hovering it till it touches or just doing a landing approach then pulling up elevator to touch the tail on the groun??

Yeah, its definitly ok to do tail touches here in New Zealand. Thats a pretty strange rule though...I dont see how it could be a threat to safety. I mean the plane if it goes out of control isnt going to go very far(into the ground). Should hovering be banned too??

Anyway, yes I was flying in my back yard flying site, where my section backs onto a public park. I have to watch out for trees and power lines, but hey-its only a 5 second walk from my house..!

Stefan

OK- tail touches are an AMA no no - as are any reach out and touch the model tricks.
the reasoning is really very good .
When a real Pro does it and a real Newbee sees it has to try it - you have a made to order disaster.
I have done quite a bit of accident investigation - professionally --and do know what I am talking about.
When it comes right down to it -the "trick" stuf done and shown in many model venues - is simply very risky.
.We have a real problem here .
how do we make these little bitty electrics -which are such fun----safe for the novice?
Really -- these things do command respect-
I have seen too many close calls with the foamies - and did some of them -
A really hot 3D setup -on a 10 oz model can get really wild in a split second.
We really better all use some serious safety judgement -before someone causes a serious accident.

Keep up the tail touches!
If you are not at an AMA field then you have nothing to worry about and alot to be proud of.
I know what I am talking about as well. I tail touch every chance I get!
Jim

Let's not start the "to tail touch or not" discussion here. It's already being discussed somewhere else.

Good job, Stefan! I haven't gotten the guts to try it yet. I've been maybe 10 feet or so and that's all I could stand!

I've been hit by 12oz electric 3D foamies, so I know what I'm talking about when I say its safe. Yeah, the prop stings a little and it may draw a little blood, but no permanent injury. Unless the newbie has lots of money and no brains(those guys are dangerous with any style of flying or plane), then they're not going to try to tail touch until they're comfortable hovering up high, because no one wants to wreck their plane and have to pay for whatever it takes to get it flying again.

So Dick what your saying is when a newbie sees a pro do a low knife edge pass the newbie is going to go try it with little or no experience and that is high risk? So now a newbie sees a real pro flying a 1/3 scale Extra and the newbie goes and tries it with no experience and thats a high risk. Hmmm we should ban all flying because the newbies will want to try it! Where do you draw the line?

Hi everyone,

Here is a pic of me hovering my IFO. Gives you a rough idea of my flying site (only for electric)

Stefan

Congrads on the tail touch Stefan!

Congrats on the tail touch! I agree that with most powered models, tail touches are inherently higher risk than about any other maneuver. But that is beside the point since the poster is from NZ and the AMA is a states thing. Besides, while I support the core reasoning behind the rule, I think the spirit of the rule is lost on a 10 oz electric. I tail touch my IFO all the time... technically my indoor site is not an AMA field, so I guess I'm legal. Not only that, I don't have landing gear on my IFO to save weight. The only way I can land without prop strikes is to pull into a hover and then I grab the plane... another AMA rule violation I guess. But it is just an IFO... get a fly swatter if it is coming at you.

And yes, I'm always excited about any new maneuver... for that matter, I excited when I pull off a perfect version of a maneuver I've known for years. I'm sure your 100th tail touch will be as much fun as your first.