For Control line do you need a saftey thong

Assuming you are not involved in speed competitions, you don't need a thong unless you are female and under size 7, in which case it is mandatory.

Abel

seriously though you're not playing around?

The answer is... it depends.

The safety code does not have the requirment for a safety thong in it, however the general section of the rulebook makes it a strong recommendation. It is required at all sanctioned events, speed, or otherwise, except racing events.

For fruther information take a look, there is even a picture of what you need. As simple as it is, there is really no reason not to use one.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/templat...ook/cline1.pdf

And, who knows, the body you save might be that female Abel is showing interest in.

The AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code says in the control line section paragraph #1 "I will subject my complete control system (including safety thong where applicable) to an inspection and pull test prior to flying".

Now if we procede to the AMA Competition regulations for 2004 in the controlline chapter, Control Line General paragraph #4 Safety Thongs. It states: "A safety thong connecting the handel of the control line models to the pilots wrist, and strong enough to prevent accidental release of the model, shall be worn at all flights of control line events except all racing events"

From the above the above I would infer that for sport flying a thong is not required but is at all controlline competive events with the exception of control line racing events.

Having said that I cannot see any reason not to use one all the time on anything more potent than a Cox plastic, which I do. Very simple with only the need to drill a little hole in your handel and a piece of leather bootlace.

John

WHICH ONE????

Maybe so but, why bother? The thing I hate about control line is there is nobody to fly with, so nobody to get hit by the plane. I have never let go of the handle and don't think I ever will, even so the plane isn't going to go far and will likely hit the trees or ground before it hits anything.

Having had a CL model snap the lines and go FF for 3/4 mile (factory crimp passed pull test... then a bit of oil got on it and the wire slipped the crimps) I KNOW they can fly quite a distance... and in any direction.

I've also seen the comedy (it was funny because no one got hurt... nothing go broke. Something gets broke or someone gets hurt its not funny any more.) of a guy chasing his control handle when his plane slipped the stooge as I drove up. The plane did 3 laps of appx 200 ft dia circles before the guy caught the handle.

There is no predeicting what will happen with a model intended to be controlled when it no longer has the person controlling it.

With a wire stooge and a long string to pull the release pin, one does not need anyone to fly with. Back in my competition stunt days that was my preferred practice method. Also when sitting on ALERT beside the nuke-loaded jet, I also got in a lot of flying.

>>>>"I have never let go of the handle and don't think I ever will, even so the plane isn't going to go far and will likely hit the trees or ground before it hits anything." <<<<
Extremely optimistic in scope. No one expects to allow the handle to go, but they do. (No one expected that auto wreck!) I've witnessed models fly away where the right turn trim/weight offset the lines and handle and go for a 1/2 mile or so. Like car seat-belts the throng is easy to get used to and once you do, you won't feel secure unless you use it.
The first time I flew as a crew-member in an airliner, with civilian clothing and just a seatbelt I felt so naked that I could hardly think to fly. 13 years with parachutes, boots, O/2 mask, helmet, and belts for crotch, shoulders plus lap was a well ingrained habit.
Once you use the throng for CL, you will not feel properly attired without it.

No need to *HATE* any thing about model aviation. Fine to just have one interest in the spectrum, see need for improvement and better methods, and delete the old not-needed, however to *hate* , IMO that's rather counterproductive.[:-] OTOH to each his own.

Now THAT is a truly scary thought!

Sport pilot A simple stooge as the others have mentioned is the solution for your 'Hatred'. The idea that a loose Ukie is not a big deal is is quite wrong. I have experianced dropped lines, cutaways in combat and an some cases the aircraft were complete flyaways. There is virtually always someone around watching. If you are truly active in Ukie Sooner or later if you use a plastic handel such as an EZ Just and you start your own oily engines you will experiance a handel drop. To suggests to anyone that a thong is not needed in my opinion borders on the irresponsible.

John

Now I have this mental image of Horace sitting on top of a nuke with his cowboy hat and yelling YAAHOO! ala Slim Pickins.

BB, have you considered investing in a Voodo doll and some hat pins?

Which is what I do, so nobody is around to get hurt. The plane isn't going 3/4 of a mile or even make a 200 foot circle either.

I have a stooge! Its just so lonely.

Never happens, though it's virtually to see me flying unless you drive into the clearing.

quote]ORIGINAL: Sport_Pilot

Which is what I do, so nobody is around to get hurt. The plane isn't going 3/4 of a mile or even make a 200 foot circle either.
[/quote]

I am glad yours isn't going anywhere, but I have seen other CL models go a looong way with no pilot attached.

jess

[:@]Same mental picture, but with him wearing the thong[:@]

Thank you BB, ala Dog Face. I never even suspected that I was a guest in your hallucinations. Do you have them often? Perhaps your supplier is diluting and/or substituting your usual intake.

Hello Horrace-maybe BB is dreaming about you

Horace,
Give yourself a little more credit, you have made quite an impression on many of us. As for the Dog Face, I guess if the shoe fits...you on the other hand are the exact opposite.

Well, now the shoe's on the other hand!

There's a problem with flying with no one else around... what happens if you have a "brain fade" and stick a hand in the prop pulling the glow ignitor off?

You would then NEED someone to help you get the bleeding stopped and to help you get proper medical care.

And there have been all too many cases of VERY experienced modelers making that mistake to say "It can't happen to me." It is more dangerous to pull the glow ignitor off than to hand start the engine sometimes...

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

Well in my case the model is only a Fox .35 stunt model and a .15 size, so they don't go fast and I am not likely to get badly cut, if I do I have a cell phone. I would worry about the lines wrapping around someones neck worse than getting hit, though I suppose it could be bad if it hit someone in the wrong place. The area is lined with trees so it would have to go straight up to go very far. But I suppose I should look for a thong. Maybe Fredricks? Also may I keep my pants on?