RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Because I think they wanted to get the facts out to us due to the amazing amount of speculation and conjecture going on in a variety of forums. Unfortunately they did not realize how little actual facts count on Internet forums.

The incident happened on the second pass. Once the RC pilot knew there was FS activity he had no business being in the air. The airboss failed first by telling the RC pilot it was OK and the RC pilot failed by not telling the Airboss he was crazy. And finally, the FS pilot failed for not yelling into the radio to clear the runway!

But as you say, in the end the NTSB/FAA are the ones who will pass actual judgment. All the AMA has done is try to pass along the facts they obtained from actual interviews and a visit to the site.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

If you are staying ahead of the airplane there is no reason you can't keep an eye out for traffic. I see too many pilots that get tunnel vision as soon as they get in the air, and that can be extremely dangerous. Just like full scale A/C, model pilots have the responsibility to see and avoid. If you are still learning, or flying in a manner that requires total concentration then you HAVE TO HAVE A DEDICATED SPOTTER. Midairs do happen, but they are the result of poor judgement, poor planning, or both.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

WHAT instructor in his right mind would ever teach a student NOT to remain aware of the locations of other planes? Sounds like a 3D instructor to me.

Sorry, but there is a sense of entitlement with 3D, hovering over a runway all the time with other models and/or full scale needing to use it at the same time is what they do. And I'll say it, I don't like it and I'm glad it sells planes for all the manufacturers, but to me and plenty of my friends it ruins the hobby. Might as well just start parking cars on the runway, it amounts to the same thing. That being said, a lot of my friends also LIKE 3D (not my BEST friends, though)....so we're all entitled to our opinions. Just because they aren't impeachable for these activities doesn't make them right, it just makes it something we folks who use runways and fly planes forward and level cannot stop. 30 guys at the field all have to park their birds when a 3D-er takes to the air. I see it every weekend. That's total BS. I eschew the clubs that encourage such ridiculous developments. 3D is showboating, plain and simple. Not simply showboating, but showboating designed to deny others the ability to fly whenever it's going on. Some idiot at our field this weekend flew his 3D plane up and into the pattern no less than 3 times that I had to avoid him. One time I had to pull straight up and we almost slapped bellies together. No, I don't like it, with plenty of good reason.

This accident was a perfect example of 3D at its finest. Ignore the rules we were all brought up with, don't have a spotter at an active full-scale airport, don't get it on the ground when there's the first hint of a full-scale in the area, don't put it on the ground when a full-scale just buzzed the runway. That's what we call a sense of entitlement, which means you (think you) don't have to follow the rules, you think you're better than others, and you disregard everybody other than yourself. But then there's the argument: "Why should we spot? We're blocking the airspace on purpose! ALL THE TIME!"

There wasn't a reason in the world that model should have been in the air after that Biplane arrived in the area. It should have been grounded until a thorough search of the sky for 10 minutes determined that the area was all-clear. This is just normal, common-sense procedure. If the Bipe surprised him before he could land, we have rules for that too. Move it OFF TO THE SIDE and keep the runway clear until the full-scale goes past, lands, whatever, then land, and do the above (search the sky, verify, verify, verify) before going up again.

Whatever that Bipe pilot did, he still had every reason to expect the guy would land the RC aircraft immediately and clear the runway. Why wouldn't he? That's our jobs as responsible RC pilots, AMA-sanctioned or not.

It certainly is another great argument for AMA governing the hobby. Had this been a properly executed AMA function, this would not have happened.

~ Jim ~ [8D]

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Exactly!

The AMA report is now the source of even more contention. We really are our own worst enemies!

Funny, but when a famous full-scale aerobat and well known modeler flew a sequence together simultaneously, there was much praise...Oh, and when the then AMA president Dave Brown set a plane to fly autonomously, out of sight no less, over the Atlantic with complete disregard of full scale aviation...again much praise...for him and all those that participated... I find it very hypocritical to applaud these events while chastising those that participated in this event...err...accident... But if someone feels better rationalizing some goofy perspectives to lay blame...be my guest, but realize I'll always consider you a hypocrite if you do not find fault with the many other things we do even though an accident has not happened YET...

Yes, I've seen models flown in many different ways that could result in a terrible accident...it happens at most flying sites everyday... Should we just curl up in the fetal position in our shops, remove all electrical power to the shop and just shiver thinking about it all? Hell no! Stuff happens...we don't need to fly models or Biplanes with smoke systems...

Now, why can't we just leave this to the lawyers to find the money at the end the paths we have laid and just accept the blame assessed via the payouts we are programed to adhere to, like the good little drones we are...

Now, back to my shop and throw the breakers back to ON....

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Heyheyhey,

You're ruining my soapbox rant with that common sense stuff...

~ Jim ~ ;)

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Mostly just for those that will argue over the sun rising in the morning. The rest seem to understand what it was and why it was written.

Per chance are you thinking of Maynard Hill??

http://www.memagazine.org/backissues...el/amodel.html

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

WHAT instructor in his right mind would ever teach a student NOT to remain aware of the locations of other planes? Sounds like a 3D instructor to me.

All my instructors taught me to be aware of the locations of other planes but to not look at them as I stated. In other words, keep my eyes fixed on my plane and be aware of the other planes flying. That was my point in implying that any time there is a lot going on, I would not even fly to avoid any mishaps that might occur. I agree that the RC plane should not have been flying, but at the same time, maybe the bipe should not have been flying either. There are always many variables that change the circumstances.

I understand your thoughts about 3D perfectly, but I am not against 3D. I like to practice 3D but I am respectful when others are out flying. Although 3d is far from my style of flying, I can tolerate it. However, 3D can drive you crazy when there is no respect for others flying regular patterns, etc. I am not a huge advocate for 3D flying as I prefer regular patterns and sport/acrobatic type stuff.

At one club I am in we have a 3D area that you fly in and rules to follow. It works out well when everbody follows the rules. Every now and then someone gets out of their fly zone and messes the rest of us up. Normally we all get along good and everyone respects each other's flying style whether it be 3d or normal circuits.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

I so agree with this ... 3D planes should not/never be hovering over the runway! First of all, the 3D plane is hogging the runway for take-offs and landings of other planes. Secondly, the 3D plane often blocks the view of the other pilots. Thirdly, the 3D plane makes so much noise that it is impossible to hear if your engine quits. Forth, your 3D maneuvers are distracting to others that are flying their plane. Fifth, for all the above reasons, helicopters are flown in a separate area from planes ... and so should 3D. Go fly with the helicopters. It's basicaly the same.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Per chance are you thinking of Maynard Hill??

http://www.memagazine.org/backissues...el/amodel.html

[/quote]


Right.

Dave Brown only happened to be at a bed and breakfast in Ireland and as luck would have it, he was there to land the model...thank goodness he was...no telling what would have happened if he hadn't been there to save everybody.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Maynard is a friend of mine... hard to see such a callous statement about his accomplishment... it does have some merit though. The risk was small, but the multiple attempt transatlantic flight could have collided with air traffic at both the start and end points of the flight. Little risk to aircraft mid-Atlantic, but there was a possibility of hitting a maritime vehicle...

This is what the sUAS argument is all about. The possibility of accidents and ability to share airspace with see and avoid being very difficult in small unmanned aircraft. Until ADS-B in and out are fully implemented and required by 2020, it might be the wild wild west in the air. We have to find a way to co-exist safely. The Colorado incident was a wake up call. We have to be extraordinarily cautious around manned aircraft.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Maynard's plane was limited to 11lbs and 1000 ft flight altitude to purposely avoid interfering with commercial aviation.

He exercised great care to limit possible interference and problems, in all of his record setting attempts.

It's amazing to see this stuff erroneously reported in defense of an arguement.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

I read the article. WOW !!! What an amazing accomplishment. Maynard and his partners are genius. A 1,900 mile flight for an r/c plane is amazing, let alone having the altitude limited to just 1,000 feet sounded like an insurmountable task. But they made it all happen.
GREAT JOB !!!

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

If they changed the fields to accomodate 3D the same way they've begun to accomodate Helis, I wouldn't have so many issues with it. I myself have gone vertical, and instead of doing a hammerhead or tailslide, I've hung there and torque-rolled for 10 seconds. Not a big deal, and I wouldn't do it near the ground. 3D's are like Helis, they are just a distraction away from disaster, because the entire process is done on the edge of crash. It doesn't belong at the flying field on the regular runway, unless nobody else is flying. The problem is that nobody else IS flying because the 3D guys make it too dangerous to fly with them. I do, because I have extra planes, but I still had to roll hard twice and yank it straight up once on Sunday when each time the kid flew straight up and through our pattern. Then we move to the other end, and guess where the idiot decides he's gonna fly THEN? He keeps flying up and down through the middle of our pattern, wherever we move it. It's like he can't resist being a fool. I see it all the time, at several fields. There's just just no reason for that, and I'll never hear anything that makes it sound like it's a reasonable thing to have at any flying field. Not the way it's done right now.

It's relevent here because I feel certain that this attitude of entitlement and acting like the rules don't apply to them had something, if not EVERYTHING, to do with this collision. I'll bet this group of non-AMA-ers primarily fly 3D and think the rules don't apply to them. That 40-percenter didn't just get there in the path of that Bipe for no reason, it took a lot of stupid moves and bad decisions to get it there. Sounds like 3D to me. But that's just my opinion. I'll be interested to see where the p**p falls in the end.

First some guy flies his heli into some girl's head in a park where the signs say it's not allowed, and then this. Yeah, our hobby is REALLY LUCKY to have helis and 3D planes. Before these geniuses are done exercising their rights to fly, our fields will be closed and we'll be back to where we were 20 years ago, starting over again.

Do you now what the first thing I ever thought when I saw a 3D performance? "Why the heck doesn't this fool take that off to the side where he's not endangering the other pilots and planes?"

The same thing I think every time I see one.

~ Jim ~ [sm=48_48.gif]

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Well said.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Right On, TSP !!

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

I'm sure glad I belong to a club where all forms of flying can be coordinated without any anamosity.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

I think the best thing to do is read the account of the incident, count up the mistakes made in your own mind, and then avoid making those mistakes in the future. We can only learn from mistakes, but we don't personally have to make them![8D]

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Me too. All it takes is a little consideration and a few manners.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

Just trying to be clear that the accomplishment was Mr. Hill's. He was the one who set the plane to do what it did. Dave Brown was an observer. It beats me what your point is about him "saving everybody" is.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

I'm not here to bash anyone or try to persuade anyone one on their choices in this hobby but I will say that some of the posts in this thread are ridiculous. <div>
</div><div>I won't name any names but "the way were brought up" as in flying level "circuits" around the "pattern".  Golly gee that sounds like loads of fun !!!  And GOD FORBID they had better be all left hand circuits too !!!!  Why not just stay home on Sunday and watch nascar ?</div><div>
</div><div>As far as 3D being dangerous... I call BS.   Personally I feel much safer flying or even <span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; "><em size="2" style="font-style: normal; ">spectating[/i]</span> at a 3D event then to be in the air or even anywhere near some of the FOG circle jerks that so highly despise other forms of this hobby which we all love AND should be able to enjoy. </div><div>
</div><div>I truly enjoyed one persons thought  that 3D flying is basically a mishap waiting to happen and always on the verge of a crash. Again I'll call BS. Some (NOT ALL) 3D pilots have skills far outweighing those of the casual sunday circle fliers.</div><div>
</div><div>Lastly I'd love to be at some of the fields these "armchair aviators" fly at and see just how many would "ditch" their trainer or 40 size warslug when I yelled there was a FS approaching.  What makes me laugh is how many times I've personally had to duck and run from an out of control plane where the pilot was trying to save it at all costs. And these are the same self righteous ones that are telling someone THAT WAS ASKED TO PERFORM FOR THIS EVENT to ditch his 42% model. </div><div>
</div><div>Mistakes were made and lives were in the balance but some of those in this forum are way out of line. I'm just glad no one was injured or killed.</div><div>
</div><div>My  ¢.02</div><div>wahoo</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

And I think you should enjoy your sport/hobby/activity, whatever! Highly skilled, organized and experienced super pilots as they are (3-D pilots, people that fly stalled aircraft), I see no reason why you cannot organize, create, and run clubs dedicated to like-minded pilots. You would have the advantage that you could absorb a lot of Heli pilots, and you would really need only a short runway...

On the other hand, If you are on an active fuill size aircraft runway you have to excerise some care, and judgement. A lot of people in this incident exhibit none of the above. Fortunately there were no life losses, and a kid leasrned a lesson (one hopes), but the real problem is that FS aviation is not getting a black eye, we are, our hobby is. I hope the biplane pilot will not go after the kid to get him to pay for the damage inflicted. After all, the kid was insured. I am sure he as homeowners insurance and also AMA insurance. But, thinking about it, maybe they would not pay for such an incident either because of the big chunk of resposibility the RC pilot in comand had in the incident.

Gerry

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

What's out of line in these posts is the "attitude", ON BOTH SIDES, that ANYONE is better than anyone else. I do have to say the people who post "against" 3D flying use personal experiences to back up their dislike. Most often it is the younger guys taking up an active runway with total disreguard for others right to fly. At my club the guys that fly 3D are VERY courtious. They only "hover" over the runway when no one else is flying. When others are up they too fly the dreaded circle or turn around!!! and they actually seem to be enjoying themselves! How odd? The supporters always come down to saying they are "better" pilots than everybody else. HOW ARROGANT! Way to make friends and not alienate people! I don't fly 3D and don't own a plane capable of it. YES I said I don't "own" a plane capable of it, but a young friend of mine does, and he let me fly it last summer. In one tank of fuel I was torque rolling it and hovering it, although about 60-70' up, after all it's not MY plane to crash, and I'm a 60 year old "FOG". Point is it isn't that hard to do if you have the right plane, just at lower altitude. I am a "turn around" flyer, (if you don't know what that is look it up) and I had no problem learning to hover. BUT, one thing for sure, I won't say I'm any better at flying than the next guy. THAT'S just an attitude, NOT ability speaking...
.
As to this statement, I posted earlier I flew for 10 years at at a FS airfield. Consider this FACT, a "flying" airplane could have landed almost immediately in the topics senario, a 3D plane has to perform some sort of "bail" out and not just "land". I don't call THAT safer!

It's ALWAYS good to know there are people in the world that would even "consider" that ANY model airplane worth more than the possible loss of a humans life!! Under ANY circumstances...If something were to happen maybe you could live with yourself , but I couldn't!

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; ">Gerry,
</span>
What blackens our eye (the way I see it) is the fact that fellow enthusiast in this great hobby are persecuting the model pilot for the fact that he was flying 3D. I mean come on guys .. He was in fact INVITED to do that.<div></div><div>There is plenty of blame to go around here so singling out the RC pilot is an error. </div><div></div><div>The AMA report stated<font color="#FF0000">"The FS</font><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><font color="#FF0000">arrived at the airpark and made a low pass down the runway."</font>RIGHT THERE THE 'AIR-BOSS' SHOULD HAVE GROUNDED THE RC PLANE. PERIOD !!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; ">
</span></div><div><font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial"><span style="font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;">It goes on to state <font color="#FF0000">"T</font></span></font><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><font color="#FF0000">he biplane then flew around the traffic pattern and was presumably setting up for a landing. The RC pilot brought his aircraft back to the runway and continued his 3-D (hover) demonstration."</font> WHY ? AGAIN THE 'AIR-BOSS' SHOULD'VE HAD THE RC LAND.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; ">
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; ">Continuing with this drama it states<font color="#FF0000"> "</font></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><font size="3" color="#FF0000">As the biplane came around, the pilot apparently aborted his approach and decided to make a</font></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: medium; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; ">second</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><font size="3" color="#FF0000">smoke-on, low pass down the runway." </font>FIREWALLED I MIGHT ADD. Now after the FS pilot made one low pass and knew there was a crowd and he still made the obvious choice to <font color="#0000FF"><b size="4">SHOWBOAT <font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and continue his own personal demo. So for all those that believe that the only "showboating" is done by those that choose to fly a "stalled" RC aircraft, the evidence clearly shows otherwise.</span></font>[/b]</font></span></div><div><font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial"><span style="font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;">
</span></font></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><font color="#0000FF"><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So right there you see bad judgement in all the</span></font>[/b]</font></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal; ">parties</span></font>[/b]</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">involved.</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1: Theair-boss</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2: The FS pilot and finally</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">3: The RC pilot</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">And for everyone that stated the RC pilot needed a dedicated spotter (while this may be true), the modeler did in fact have one that I personally would feel very comfortable listening to and I'll quote it right from the AMA report.</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><font color="#FF0000">"The air boss elected to proceed by communicating with the full-scale aircraft through the use of a handheld transceiver while standing at the runway&rsquo;s edge, to verbally communicate with the RC pilots during the flight demonstrations."</font>Now who better would know the intentions of the FS pilot, a dedicated spotter or someone in direct communications with him ???</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Now granted if this was a full on AIRSHOW with multiple aircraft and multiple demo's then I would have to agree with a dedicated spotter as the air-boss would have his hands full. But with only one SCHEDULED demo (42%) and one incoming FS (not scheduled) I don't see the problem. What I don't see is the intentions behind why the air-boss chose to allow the RC to continue his routine with a FS plane in the area.</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We may never know.</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">wahoo</span></font>[/b]</span></div><div><font size="3" face="Verdana, Arial"><span style="font-size: 13px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;">
</span></font></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; "><b size="4"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></font>[/b]</span></div>

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

The Navy's Aviation Safety School (I'm a grad) teaches that any accident is a chain of events where, if you break any one link, the accident likely does not occur. In this case, the chain starts with the decision to allow simultaneous operations; a (presumed) failure to conduct a preflight briefing for all pilots (full scale and RC) that detailed procedures; or if they did, a failure to fly what they briefed; a failure to maintain situational awareness (both); a failure to communicate intentions (Full scale / air boss); the failure of the RC pilot to yield to the full scale aircraft; and lastly, a failure to see and avoid (both). I do agree that based upon the AMA rules, the RC pilot was required to yield to the full scale plane regardless of how disciplined (or not) the actions of the full scale pilot, so ultimately I think he'll probably be at fault, but we'll just have to wait and see.

The NTSB and FAA will be the ultimate authorities. The only bright spot is that nobody got hurt - had the full scale plane gone out of control and crashed among the gathered aircraft or crowds, this could have been a disaster. They got lucky.

RE: An Incident with Lessons for All of Us
 

I love RC airplanes, I fly them everytime I have a chance to. I enjoy my hobby and plan to keep doing it.

So I will hate if someone (the goverment, FAA, AMA) restricts me from doing it.

At my age I have learned that the best way to avoid that is following the rules, wheather I agree with them or not. They might sound unfair, insane, non sense, but I will follow them without asking.

Unfrotunately 3D, helis and everybody else that flies RC are categorized as the same.

So lets stick together as one (anyways the public, FAA and NTSB sees us as one) and keep the right to fly.

In this case I agree with almost everybody that the three pilots were at fault. Lets learn from this and avoid breaking the rules especially in front of a lot of general public.