RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

Wasn't implying that everyone else finds it boring but I'm willing to bet ya that most pilots (and spectators) would rather watch a fellow pilot with a well balanced flight regime than another who repeatedly comes in and out of show center for a split second at a time. Don't get me wrong, I like fast (and love to see and feel acceleration) but I believe at the present time it goes against what we are trying to achieve with regards to the AMA and how we as jet flyers are perceived. With time and ever increasing safety records higher speeds will come and may well be the norm. For now I believe we should police ourselves and continue to develop better piloting skills, at the present speed limit, so when the time comes we are ready for heavier, faster, and perhaps higher taskloaded aircraft. When I wanted to fly my HotSpot fast to "see what it'll do", it was at an inactive airport or a deserted area in Eastern Colorado. I see no reason why we can't continue to do that.

For those that want to get a crack at the 300+ or even the "550mph" mark why not arrange a private jet rally for those wanting to just do one thing, fly flat out. In the US automotive world there is the [link=http://www.silverstateclassic.com/flatout.htm]Silver State Classic[/link] among a few, that are run legally and in a relatively safe manner. Flying our jets at 250+mph in an organized and private venue once or twice a year could help the AMA, aircraft, and radio manufacturers better determine where the human, safety, and RC turbine aircraft performance limits lie each year and what needs to be done to either increase or limit performance. Wasn't Madera and it's race schedule around the US promoted by sources outside of AMA's control?

Yes, very exciting! And so is trying to miss a herd of deer at over 110mph in my car :D ...and as the saying goes, there is always someone faster!

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

It's not that we can't enforce the 55lb rule, it's that many choose not to. It shouldn't be surprising that the same "don't complain about the rule - just ignore it" approach that several have advocated for the 200 mph rule has also been applied by the same folk to the 55lb rule.

[/quote]
Well right wrong or indifferent, the EC says that they think an isolated case of property damage or even death (even of nuns and orphans) will be handled by the insurance coverage we have now. The nightmare scenario is fire, burning 1 million acres of California or Florida and getting picked up by the national media. The feeling is that turbines and turbines alone have a uniquely greater chance of causing such a scenario to occur, hence the special consideration for turbines.
[/quote]

Care to check what the largest claim in AMA history is ? Supposedly it was a fire started by a free-flight glow-fuel model. So, if the nightmare is fire, let's ban free-flight. Like Sideshow Bob once said - can you imagine explaining to a jury that you deliberately set the aircraft off with zero control over it, allowing it to do whatever it wanted, rather than installing radio control in it so that you could at least try to prevent it causing damage ?

Gordon

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

Gordon

Lots and lots and lots and lots of experience over many, many many many years does give me some standing when I make a statement like that.

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

It doesn't matter how much experience you have.... you are of course welcome to make as many decisions as you wish about what you need, but you don't have the authority to tell other people what they need.

Gordon

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

damn straight gordon. damn straight

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

DA rules is DA rules if you want to play on an AMA field and be insured by the AMA we must follow the rules. All this hot-air isn't going to change anything. If you want different rules provide your own field, new rules and be prepared to provide insurance cheaply....
Lee H. DeMary
AMA 36099

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

[its a sad though that someone STOPPED flying because of a rule that to me makes little to no sense. and i have seen aircraft fly at 200+ mph for a lot longer than 15 mins it the past year silver. some of these guys build the turbines them selfs (myself included) and have the abilitry to fly as fast as 300mph! ]

F-22 you have got to be kidding! Explain your statement, 200 mph nonstop? Fly an turbine at 300 mph so what. Have you wind tunnel tested it? Have you done structural testing so your bubble gum and bailing wire gadget so it doesn't flutter itself into a unrecognizable hunk of garbage?. You are the kind of non thinker that will get the turbine waivers pulled by the AMA. 200 mph is more than enough for most, if you need more speed, go fly a real jet a 300 knots. Something that is designed for it!

The AMA has backed off. We have less regs that make more sense.

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

Funny ... in another post you talk about how you think we could change the weight limit rules. Why didn't you instead state that anyone who wants to fly something that is over 55lbs needs to provide their own field etc ? Seems like yet another case of hypocrisy to me.

Gordon

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

Just my two cents worth.

The problem that we have with turbines is that they can be purchased by anyone and assembled relatively straightforwardly. (The kangaroo is really easy to build by anybody with an engineering brain). You could have the situation where a well off person decides that they like the look of them with no previous experience. I am sure everyone would agree that this is potentially disastrous.

In the UK we have no waiver system. I have bought my turbine and almost have it completed. There is nothing to stop me flying it very soon apart from my own fears about my ability. I am therefore going to buy a high speed model to specifically train for my new jet. (I am a competent sport flyer but do not have much experience with high speed). A little like your waiver but without any regulation.

It might appear a great pain for you guys in the US to obtain your waiver but I think that it is a really great idea.

Now to my point.

I can understand limits being placed on certain factors to improve safety. I believe that a blanket 200 mph limit is overly strict. I have seen loads of models in the UK flown, at shows, in excess of this speed. They all have one thing in common, expert builders and expert flyers.

So, why not limit the model to 200 mph and have another waiver type qualification to remove/raise the restriction. I know it would be another hoop to jump through but surely that would be a compromise between safety restrictions and sensibility.

I am sure that most of you who want to fly in excess of 200mph have plenty of experience and ability to make this a bit of a formality. If you are not in this category then maybe a limit is a good thing.

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

Gordon, Clearly the AMA is telling you and I what we will and will not do. If you can't live within the rules, and the standards set for sanctioned AMA activities....then either work to change those rules, or create your own new venue.... No hypocrisy within those concepts are there?
Lee

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

Gordon now Big Brother is rubbing your face it it.
NASA went 5000 MPH yesterday, ..... by radio control.
To make things worse, .... they're spending YOUR money doing it.
LOL

(edited for spelling)

Kevin
Not a Spelling Major

RE: has the AMA gone to far?
 

No, the thing that makes it worse is that they are braggin' about it!