This is for the most part a dead area here but I am curious, what kind of excitment do you get when one of these babies breaks away from the control line?[X(] Is everybody heading for Cleveland?

Let us say it an unplanned occurrence, likely to have negative results, and let it go at that.

Jim

I have seen control line speed planes get loose four times, none was a pretty sight. Fortunately no one ws hurt in any of the cases.

Yes, when it happens get out of Dodge. or just dodge.

Bill.

Watched a couple of FAI combat ships get loose at the Worlds. Nothing like a screaming 15 heading for the clouds. They found it was a long walk to the East corn field. Do not want them to get loose, that is why lines should be checked often and/or pull tested. -DOC

Well, Snoopy, if it is just ONE control line in a two-line system and the other one holds, you get to hang on while your pride and joy does 1/2 to a dozen or so loops--finishing with a figure 9. It's ugly, for sure. Dzl

Snoop doggy bag
If you want to see a plane that has broken away go to this site and click on "CONTROL LINE DEMO". Rather interesting.

http://www.spadtothebone.com/resourcesvideos.htm

RW

Shades of "The Flying Farmer." Pretty funny.

That loose SPAD was just stupid - the flier let go of the handle. At least it was a slow flier, had it come in it could be dodged. A c/l speed plane has more than 90% of its drag from the wires, even a class "A" plane can run well over 200 mph when it breaks free. You wont have time to dodge.

Bill.

Looked to me like it was actually R/C. The lines were just part of an "act."

I could be wrong, though.

remember dyna-jets,thet were set up for controline speed and oif i remember right flown inside a fenched in circle to prevent a mishap from injuring a bystander.mono line i think.

John:

When I was flying c/l speed the fenced circles were rare, but I did see a jet speed come loose where there was chain link surrounding. The plane went right through the fence and kept going. Took the wings and tail off of course, but the engine and tank were never found.

AMA c/l speed can be flown monoline or two line, both piston and jet, FAI rules require a two line system.

Bill.

I was flying when my down line broke and my airplane did 12 and 1/2 loops till the engine died. Dang plane is still up there!