One of the most important subjects, and one of the least discussed in this forum, is how to avoid getting yourself (or others) hurt while working with model aircraft.

Some parts of this are simple:

Keep your hand out of the prop. Don't run with scissors

Some are not quite so obvious:

Keep the 12 volt battery and the metal fuel can away from each other. They like to go [X(]"BOOM!"[X(] when they get together.

Some you really need to think about:

Why the rule about keeping RC combat planes out 500ft/ci displacemnt?
Its to help keep the parts that result from a mid-air from hitting people. Its also to help keep the guy who gets caught up in the action from hitting the crowd when he tries to fly someone else's plane (instead of his own) I'm sure when you THINK about it.. you can see more reasons to keep them out a bit.

Why the hard hat for the Combat participants?
Its more to remind the pilot that he's doing something that CAN be dangerous than to protect his head. If you have to wear a hard hat... its hard not to think about WHY you are wearing it.

****

Make your safety ideas short ... or they get BORING[&o]

You must be as bored as I am

While transporting an electric plane do not have the battery in the acft. Motors start when switches fail.

Not bored....

Interested in seeing beginners succeed without someone going to a hospital along the way.

The only way to reach that goal... get the word out about what isn't safe. No better time to learn safe operation of the model than... while learning to fly it.

I bought an electric starter when I purchased my first plane. The engine started so easy that I thougt it was an unnecessary hassle to get the starter out every time. I was just starting it with my fingers and pulling out of the way. Unfortuanelty that last time I tried that the engine tried to start backwards, it probably would have if my hand wouldn't stopped it. Nice trip the the ER.

I haven't tried to start it with my fingers since.


Wings

Rule no. 1 Do not drink the fuel, no matter who dares you.
Rule no. 2 Do not clamp the aligator clips from your starter to ANY part of your body.
Rule no. 3 Do not attempt to put out any grass fires with the contents of a fuel jug.
Rule no. 4 Do not under ANY circumstance say "Hey, watch this!"
Rule no. 5 Do not hold the Tx behind your head ala Jimmi Hendrix while flying low inverted passes.

Jetts

Jettstar

Don't put your glow igniter in the same pocket as your keys. [:@]

I had a close call about two weeks ago with my slippery trainer. It was cold and I had a big bulky jacket on. I had run 2 tanks of fuel through it and it was pretty well greased up and slippery. I was carrying my plane to the runway and somehow my jacket bumped the throttle wide open and It slipped out of my hand into the gravel. I could have lost a toe or been injured. The only thing I got was a broken prop and heckling from the other guys there. I need to get a neck strap so I can use both hands taking the plane to the runway. Anything can happen with these things and I don't think it would be possible to make a list of safety rules that would eliminate all accidents. I was too lazy to take the tx to the runway and come back for the plane. I'm not that lazy anymore.

zetor,
A neck strap won't help that situation. When you use a neck strap and let go of the transmitter, the top of the Tx falls against your chest and pushes both sticks full up. (Full throttle, down elevator.)
Dennis-

Something I always try to do is get a spot that is nearest the end of the runway in the direction I'm taking off. This minimizes the number of people I'm passing as the plane takes off. I know everyone can't do this if the field is crowded but it's something I try to do.
"Full throttle and down elevator" Yeah that wouldn't be good.

Guess its better than up right?

Unless I need a shave that day.

Don't be any where around the field when I do a maiden flight, seek cover, hide anywhere you can !!

Each club flying field needs a bunker.

Talking about fuel, I was wondering if AMA requires any associated club to have a fire extinguisher at their fields.
I imagine not being rare people putting fire in their planes!

Nilo

As far as fire extinguishers, it's required for Jet Jocks, but I don't think it's a requirement for glow/electric. All told I've been playing around with glow engines 4+ years, boats/cars/airplanes, and have never seen an engine ignite fuel outside the combustion chamber. Worst I ever saw was a guy smoking while he refueled his car from a spout, scorched off his eyebrows and nose hairs and burnt up all the plastic parts of his car.

But I ALWAYS carry an extinguisher in the car.....

No AMA requirement for the fire extinguisher except for the Jets.

It is highly recommended for people with gasoline power models to have an appropriate fire extinguisher.

Glow models VERY rarely catch fire. It was more common (but still rare) for glow models to catch fire when mufflers weren't used a lot. Priming via squirting some fuel in the exhaust could light the thing on fire. (usually you could just blow it out like a candle... no harm=no foul=not ever reported. I lit a few up that way.)