At the weekends its getting really busy at the field so we decided (I pushed) to build two more starting benches, now we have 10 total, first come first - first serve.

Never the less while I’m flying sometimes particular people come and ask if they can use my bench -
“what?, what?, what?, LEAVE ME ALONE I’M VERY BUSY!!!!” -
“well what was so important that you disturbed me while I have an airplane in the air? *** Man?”

Sometimes while I’m flying people just park their stuff on my bench without asking, I’m thinking maybe to use their stuff next time….

There were wars over the benches at our club before I came and I see some of the good guys using home built benches or starting it on the ground.

I’m just thinking to build a bench or something that can be folded into a sedan in order to avoid this no fun aspect.
What’s your experience or portable bench?

Thanks
Alex

Excuse my ignorance here since I have never belonged to a club. One, if you have a plane in the air it is obvious that you do not need the stand, so you could nicely tell someone that they could use it. Two, I fly and talk all the time, I just don't take my eyes off of the plane. If it is that big of a deal for you then build a small portable stand to carry with you, so they can still ask you if they can borrow it while you are flying. If that fails then you can always do what I have done for over 20 years, start it on the ground. Sorry, it just sounds as though you are blowing it a little out of proportion. After all, it is just a stand. 

build a bench, write your name on it (this is ____ bench feel free to use it when im not here, but when i arive it becomes mine again) </p>

then leave it at the field, send everyone a email stating your policy.    </p>

What good does it to complain on the internet?

No, it's not just a stand. I is your table for you field box, and maybe one or two planes, a cup of coffee, and what ever else you need at the flight line. It is your hanger for the day.

We have eight benches I think, and on very busy days, the big gasser planes have some restraints on the edge of the pits asphalt. that they use The benches are close enough to each other that a big wing spand will incroach on the bench beside it, especially if it is another larger plane. It is not uncommon to have two guys on a bench though. The problem there is I've seen planes blown off the bench from the prop blast, so there has to be some coordination. Most of our guys are very good about sharing and that helps a lot. Those that don't get the cold shoulder and don't come around much anymore.

Alex, getto the field early, stake out yourbench and load it with enough stuff that no one else want's near it

Don

I haven't experienced this, yet.
But, first come is first served. (this is how it is at our field)
I wouldn't ask to use a bench that someone else is using.
Where would they refuel, work on their plane, or put their plane, just to take a break?
Sounds like you need to get some donations and/or club money and build some more benches....

This is an issue that your club is going to have to work out. No matter what we tell you here the club field practices will win out as they dictate how things are run at your club. Bring this issue up to your club president.</p>

Our club has quite a few of this benches as well. But I would rather start my planes on the ground. It's how I've always done it and I'm comfortable doing it this way. A tent stake a piece of rope restrains the plane while I start it and run up the engine. Simple, easy, and almost fool proof.</p>

A simple stand made out of PVC is easy to build and will hold your plane for working on it, fueling, or assembly. But isn't strong enough to hold the plane while it's running. Any stand you build that folds up and goes into your car is more than likely not going to be sturdy enough to restrain a plane while you run the engine. </p>

Ken</p>

Uh, on the ground is a thought .

When it is crowded we share the starting benches, my brother and I share one and then there are other pairs that share and help each other.  There are a few people that are always there on their own but they share too when it is necessary.  I know its nice to have your own little empire, since my brother and I always share we have ours, but sharing the safety stands is just the right thing to do.</p>

If you consistantly have a large crowd that all wants to use the benches then obviously ten of them are not enough.  Since you indicate that you had to fight for two more maybe the rest of the club does not feel like there is a problem, or perhaps there is an issue of who will build the stands.</p>

The benches are not very expensive to build so surely there is enough money in the treasury to cover the expense.  Hopefully someone in your club has a power mitre saw or a tablesaw that would precut the lumber and bring it to the field.  Then a few people with cordless drills could screw them together in pretty short order.  This just does not seem like an issue that should be hard to overcome to me.</p>

Take your old lady with you to guard the bench while you are flying. She could also run interference for the pushy ones.

This is very true. As one of our club board members, this is an issue that we would need to deal with to make sure is was fair to all
</p>

Us old guys are not so steady getting up from kneeling down starting and engine. A couple of the older guys who always start on the ground scare me to death watching them wobbleing aroung getting up after the engine is running. The bench starts are much less likely prevent an injury
</p>

[quote
A simple stand made out of PVC is easy to build and will hold your plane for working on it, fueling, or assembly. But isn't strong enough to hold the plane while it's running. Any stand you build that folds up and goes into your car is more than likely not going to be sturdy enough to restrain a plane while you run the engine.</p>

Ken
[/quote]

Ken, this is the best advise you have given and thats saying a lot. I've watched some guys use the light weight stands as a starting stand and it is scarry. On guy had a plane get away from him last year on one of these light weight stands and it ate his hand. If your stand isn't strong enough that you can grab the prop an pull until the airframe start breaking it isn't strong enought.

Don
</p>

Thanks everybody, Don you got it, that&rsquo;s the best way to deal with it.

When we were short on benches at the beginning I said to the field officers lets build more benches in order to avoid these issues and we built.

As for the guy was standing in front of me and nagging about something maybe I didn&rsquo;t described it well.

I don&rsquo;t mind sharing a bench, I already have regular people that I share my bench with.
Its just my stuff is spread around and sometimes I had to search for my glow starter that somebody took for use so I got another two glow starters for spare.

As far as addressing the club I guess in the future I&rsquo;ll build more benches so I&rsquo;m wondering if not to build one and last for my self and watch the rest fighting over benches.

I&rsquo;m not only complaining to the internet, just i had issues with the non flying members of the club - they are not flying but they have a lot to say....

W8ye, I&rsquo;m not old nor my lady, if that is what they do to my bench what will they do to my lady???

Alex

They might want to borrow her to, just remember, don't take your eyes off of the plane Sorry, couldn't resist.

I don't think it is right for one person to claim a bench their own. It belongs to the club, and however many club members there are, even if it was you who suggested it.

Personally I don't think people should leave their stuff on benches. If you want to pile your stuff together near the bench, fine.

I also don't think people should use other people's stuff without asking, regardless of where they found it.

Last, a pilot flying a plane would be my absolute last resort when asking someone for something. It's not whether they can talk and fly or not, it's just manners.

I have no idea what the point here is but I'm feeling a bit opinionated right now, and this seems like a good place to let it out[8D]

So I guess talking on the cell phone while flying is out of the question.

Bluetooth baby!

C-c-can't we all j-j-j-just get along?
Get with the officers of the club, work out some rules, post the rules and everyone abide by them.
If you've got the bench, it should be yours to use. If someone gets it before you, it is theirs to use. Simply a case of first come, first served. No club member should own benches at the club's flying field, they should belong to the club for everyoneto use.

<div>Flame You admit to not belonging to a club...I don't think you know what an aggravation it is to have someone you don't know move your things...I've seen helo flyers put there helos on wing bags with wings in the bags......It's not a question if you can talk and fly, most of us can, It's a question of respect and niceity...Don't walk out to a pilot who's flying and ask him if you can move his stuff.....first come, first served means justthat.....all parties involved need to be mindful ofthe other guy.....
WhenI fly Ikeep my things near the end of a table.....a tool tray, starter,perhaps a cup of coffee or a coke...If no one has said anything when I taxi in and pick up my plane I expect to put in on my table if Ineed to...when I'm done tinkering I put myaircraft back on the ground......The table is mine until I leave or if you ask we can share</div>

Alex, there is a guy up there in New York that builds just such a folding bench. I have one and carry it back and forth and don't even use the club benches at our field.
I will look up a link to him and come back and add it to this post.

sarg96

Our club has about 60 members. Our field has 6 "starting" benches".  When there are more than 6 people at the field, we don't "claim" a bench.  We store our planes on the ground behind the benches.  When we're ready to fly, we move our starting equipment to the bench, start the plane, and fly.  When we''re done flying, we take our stuff off the bench to make if available to another flyer.  If there aren't many people at the field, we hog the benches of course.  But claiming a bench for the entire time your there, especially if its community property, is impolite.  </p>

A crowded day for us is about 20 people at the field, and we normally don't have more than 3-4 people in the air at any one time.</p>

Brad</p>

</p>

If the club paid for and built these benches, they are for every ones use.  Start you plane and clear the bench so the next guy can use it.  They are for starting planes, not storing accessories and other stuff.  Now if you built, paid for and store the bench when it is not in use, do as you wish with it; hog it or share it.

That is what I thought they were for. Safety shouldn't be first come first serve!

Rodney,
You hit the nail right on the head - these are starting benches !!!
We have 4 at our club. Some people store their starter and ignitor at the bench.
We all allow anyone to use the starter or ignitor if we leave it there.
There is no storing of planes on the starting benches, we have tables for that.
The idea of a club is to share ideas, camaraderieand facilities.
Sounds like it is time for the club to reevaluate their purpose and set the ground rules accordingly.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

ahhh please excuse me I thought we were talking about tables...yes I start on the bench and then clear it......my apologies

We have these safety benches at all three of my clubs. Two of my clubs have at least 8-12 benches, and we typically claim a bench and keep our stuff on them &amp; around them. If more guys come and we are out of benches, then we share benches, or the new guys start them on the ground. That's just how we do it at those clubs, since we rarely have more pilots than benches. One club even has a safety bench just for engine break-in, it's placed far away from the flight line and pavilion so the noise and exhaust won't bother anyone else!

I've also been to another club with only a few safety benches, and since they frequently have more pilots than benches, their policy is to just start your plane on the bench and then clear it for someone else.