ORIGINAL: da Rock
ORIGINAL: ggeezer
I just looked it up in the Electrical Engineers Handbook, 500 Kv will jump approx. 6 (six) inches in dry air at standard temp. and pressure.
Orv.
So the problem isn't the electricity leaping out to get us, it's our control lines reaching the power lines.
//SNIP//
OK, add the length of your lines to where the runway is on the side of the circle toward the power lines. Now, double the length of the lines and you have the answer. How far from power lines should you fly? Twice your line length from the side of the circle toward the side where death awaits.
You know, the real possibility of death does await. This ain't no laughing matter.
All good stuff, da Rock.
However just to illustrate how some folks are misled and how others can be misled I offer this tidbit:
I had recently moved into a suburban area of a large city. A few miles away was a fair sized hobby shop, mostly slot cars back in early '70s but a fair amount of airplane stuff. The owner was a relatively young person around the 30ish age. CL was still very popular in the area.
One day I was there and the owner was flying a CL model, regular metal lines, about 52' or so, (flying a .19 powered profile) UNDER a large group of the heavy power lines that transfer power to other areas, NOT just regular home delivery lines. I couldn't believe it!
He was obviously helping what looked like an early teen youngster with the model. I went in and asked the clerk about that situation and he replied that the owner did that often to teach CL flying to customers. Hard to believe!
Later I had the opportunity to try to discuss the danger with the owner. He stated that he kept the model well below the lines and nothing ever happened. He could see no danger.
Incidentally the HS Owner was a strong motorcycle person. He never wore a helmet, and mocked those that did. Too bad as a couple years later he met an untimely death in which a helmet would probably have saved his life. [&o]