Fly alone?
 

I just got back from the flying field and I was there by myself, do you like to have the field to your self, or do you prefer to have people there with you? Is there much danger of being at the field by yourself?

Just wondering

RE: Fly alone?
 

I like to have other club members there because it is more fun to share my flying time with my friends.
Yes it is more dangerous to fly alone simply because if you get hurt there will be nobody around to help you.
I do fly alone sometimes, if you do fly alone be extra carefull and make sure someone knows where you are at so they can come find you if you are not home on time.

RE: Fly alone?
 

I personally like to get to the field, get set up have a flight or two the have other people show up, I tend to be a bit of a loaner though.

Thanks

Jon

RE: Fly alone?
 

i like to fly with other members in the air around me (i keep out of their way though)

but its nice in the evenings when the sun is climbing down the trees to your side and youve got a nice clear blue sky, only you there and you have the whole place to yourself, the engine doesnt miss a beat and those couple of flights seem to stretch on forever, even better if youve got a nice song on your ipod

RE: Fly alone?
 

I just realized the other day that relaxing after each flight talking to others is at least half the fun of flying. I used to fly a parkflyer alone in the park and it was very boring between flight while waiting to charge the battery.

RE: Fly alone?
 

I like to fly alone and with others. ;)



Luftwaffe Oberst
Radio Aero modelers Club
AMA District II
Pulaski, NY

RE: Fly alone?
 

Missleman you said it all.

RE: Fly alone?
 

I like "hangar flying" with the guys at the field almost as much as I like flying. I do like to fly right after sunrise and just before dark when there are only a few guys or nobody else out there too. That is especially true when I have a new plane to maiden- as much for safety's sake as anything.

RE: Fly alone?
 

Without a doubt by myself or maybe one other person. Yesterday was a perfect example. I was landing my trainer and a gust of wind blew it dead toward someone standing close to the strip. I had to stick my plane in the ground to keep from hitting him :( 1-2 people at the field is much more relaxing than 30 even though it's not as exciting.

RE: Fly alone?
 

Since this is the beginner's forum, I'd suggest that beginners not fly alone for a number of reasons.

Safety
You don't learn from others.
You don't have anyone to help you bring back your airplane. ;)
You don't have anyone who might have seen what you did that caused the crash.
You don't have anyone who might have seen where it crashed.
You don't have anyone to figure out why it won't start today.
You don't have anyone to borrow the tools from that you haven't bought yet.
You don't have anyone to borrow a glowplug from when you learn that they don't last forever.
etc
etc

RE: Fly alone?
 

I like yakin' with the guys as much as flying. Great group of guys down there. I really don't get too excited about the notion of flying alone. No one to share the flights with and when I am out there flying alone, half the time I'm wondering if someones going to come up and take my stuff or something. We fly in a state park and people come down just to see what's going on. [&o]

RE: Fly alone?
 

I like to be in the air alone....but having other members at the field to bs with is half the fun.

RE: Fly alone?
 

It`s a great part of this hobby to have friends with whom you fly. When I first started, I didn`t realize that I would enjoy the socializing at least as much as the actual flying, maybe even more. Having said all that, I do enjoy having the field to myself at times. Vital, however, to be hyper safety conscious when you`re alone.

RE: Fly alone?
 

I enjoy the field to myself ,when I`m working on touch n go`s or just trying to get a maneuver down. No distractions. But I enjoy my friends too and don`t mind the BS sessions.

RE: Fly alone?
 

You nailed it.

RE: Fly alone?
 

Where I fly there is more times than not only myself and one other guy is there. We take turns flying. When one is flying the other is commeting on "what kind of custom manuver was that or, that was as close as crashing as you'll get without really doing it, or did you mean to do that". Every once in a while we even commend one another on what they've accomplished. I guess I like the air to myself but someone there to B.S. with

RE: Fly alone?
 

I detest flying when the field is crowded, it's impossible to do much other than fly around in circles. Having some people at the field is great, just not a crowd. OTOH, while I used to enjoy flying alone, now that I'm a bit older and more cautious, I do worry about what would happen if I did something stupid like sticking my hand in the prop. So, my favorite time is when there is one or just a few other people at the field.

RE: Fly alone?
 

Here's my take on flying alone (i.e. nobody else at the field with you). One day at the field a fellow flyer was cut by the prop and needed to get it taken care of. With the combination of the heat, the injury, being tired, and blood loss he actually passed out while we were driving him the emergency room. Now if this had happened to me if I was out flying by myself I wonder if I would be able to drive myself to the ER. Because of that I tend to only fly with others at the field with me. The other reason I like to fly with others is just because I like having my flying buddies to shoot the breeze with!!! :D

Ken

RE: Fly alone?
 

Thats the way I like it to.. Maybe about 4 or 5 other people

RE: Fly alone?
 

happened to a guy i fly with last sunday... passed out at the field.. me and another guy heard that sound of a hand in the prop, we went over turned his stuff off and took him to the hospital.. i would suggest never going to the field alone, if there is no other fellow fliers take a friend with you... never know what could happen

RE: Fly alone?
 

Gosh, I would have thought 6 others would be the magic number for you! :D

RE: Fly alone?
 

I really don't care how many people are at the field. I like to see all the different aircraft and I enjoy
having my flying buddys there to BS with and to compare notes with. latelty we have been lucky
and only about 7-8 guys come out when I am there that leaves the airspace open.

RE: Fly alone?
 

I like both with people and alone. But the best scenario is to fly with my kid(s) for a while and then some of the guys show up to spend the rest of the day with. Enjoy flying the most with no more than 1 other plane in the air with mine.

Del

RE: Fly alone?
 

Well gee, I joined a club so I could fly with other model enthusiasts. Except for a few rare occasions, it really isn't that crowded when I go to our field (most crowds are on the weekends). Last week we had a low key event with lunch provided. About 20-25 people there but you never had to wait for any length of time to get a flying station. No one was on my frequency either but we still followed field rules. Last year I had a 3/36 job which ran Sat/Sun/Mon. I had the rest of the week to fly and virtually no one else flew on weekdays. I got lots of flying in but it got kinda boring.

I also fly a good deal of control line where you have to launch from a stooge while flying alone. Every control liner will tell you NEVER to fly alone. The risk of getting seriously injured with no one to assist you is just too great. Besides, flying and shooting the bull with your comrades is priceless.

Our former CL field was restricted to only Sundays and Wednesday evenings. This resulted in 6-10 folks being there at any given time in those slots. We all had great comraderie. Now we can fly unlimited and I rarely find more than 1 or 2 other people there.

I enjoy the best of all worlds and fly with my 15 year old son. He rarely misses a chance to go flying. I suppose in another year or two that may change but he's a great flying partner and can outfly me both in CL and RC.

RE: Fly alone?
 

I've always flown alone, been doing it for over 20 years. Only once did I ever go to an event with other flyers, it was fun and I had a great time. I fly alone because I have a private flying field and none of my friend are into the hobby, so off I go with the sky to myself. Is it dangerous? No, not anymore than mowing the grass at home, or doing any of the thousands of other day to day activities that could cause an injury (ever hear of somebody falling in a bathtub?). Why even worry about such things? I've been in Iraq for two months now and flying a toy RC plane is so far down on the perspective list of danger that it barely gets a nod. Be aware of the potential for injury and use common sense, but don't let it spoil your fun by any means.

I buy I build I fly I crash
I buy I build I fly I crash
I buy I build I fly I crash