ORIGINAL: Gremlin Castle
I would have to say that the only reason to have the discussion past trolling and pot stirring would be a situation where the person had such an inflated ego or overwhelming need to be recognized that they just can't wait a day to fly at a venue that is less crowded than a contest or fly in.
It really doesn't make any difference whether it is a 100# model in the great out of doors or a 3.5 oz. model indoors being that anxious to fly something untested around a group that has gathered for a specific agenda is ill thought out and just downright rude.
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And yet the Aero-design events are doing first flights with more risk that the typical hobby R/C model first flight in public, in competition with a safe record.
I for one enjoy seeing first flights. I like to cheer the success and congratulate the owner and help mourn the dreaded failure, if one should happen.
I NEVER want to see a model crash...but if it does crash, I would rather see it than miss it....
I feel you are overstating the risks involved. If a first flight can be done at a field with other modelers present (and it can), I don't really see any significant extra risk is doing it at certain types of events when a few more modelelrs are present.
Given that we often make adjustments to computerized transmiters in between flights at an event...are we not doing a bit of a maiden, then.
I will confess an error on my part. Back in the days of more models than RX units, I was swapping an RX back and forth between two well proven models at an event.
The model had elevons and on the last swap I misplugged the servo leads. Roll was correct, pitch was backwards. I only checked roll before the hand launch
Instant accident on an unplanned "test flight" of a well proven model at a sanctioned event. Technically, I busted Rule 4, even though it was a well proven model......