From: plb@dcdwest.uucp (Phil Blais)
Newsgroups: rec.models.rc
Subject: Re: Quickie 500 Needs to be REFORMED!!
Date: 13 Aug 92 23:44:29 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: ITT Aerospace/Communications Division - West

In article <22808@hacgate.SCG.HAC.COM> lew@hacgate.UUCP (Lyman Lew) writes:
>
> Many lines deleted
>
>2. Ban all high wing Q500 aircrafts using this powerplant since
>the stresses and loads are concentrated rather than evenly
>distributed like a low wing aircraft. This is true in positive
>G maneuvers.
>
>3. Ban the Nelson engine from Q500 or put some kind of performance
>limitation on engines of this nature.
>

After initially reading this posting I just hit the 'n' key and went
on to the next article. Mr. Lew has a right to his own opinion and
was obviously expressing it. What prompted me to go back and reread
his article today was the sound of the Blue Angels practicing here
in San Diego and flying no more than 100 feet directly over my office
at somewhere around 300-400 knots give or take a couple.

All weekend long hundreds of thousands of people will be in attendance
at the Miramar Air Show and each of them will share a certain amount
of the risk involved. Imagine how many would die if an F-18 Hornet
crashed into a typical crowd of say 200,000. The same thing applies
to a model airshow. Those in attendance implicitly accept a certain
amount of risk by just being there. They may sue if they get hurt or
worse but all in attendance are in fact betting that that won't
happen (atleast not to them!). The same is true of any event where an
element of danger exists e.g. Indy 500, Reno, and model airplane meets.
Why is it then that when an accident occurs the first reaction is to
BAN something? In this case the Nelson 40 from Quickie 500. If the
airframe can't handle the load as Mr. Lew claims isn't it possible to
stategically reinforce it rather than just flat ban the engine?

To keep it short there are all kinds of reasons why I think Mr. Lew is
way off base when he calls for a ban of the Nelson. Suffice it to say
that in our system of free enterprise manufacturers/superior
craftsman such as Nelson have a right to expect a reasonable return
on investment and if they don't get it for whatever reason including
banning a superior engine from the event it was designed for then we
as modelers will all get what we deserve and ask for - Milquetoast!

>4. Relocate the contest outside of populated area. At Whittier
>Narrows, the Pomona Freeway is several hundred yards from the end of
>the RC runway. In its path are controline circles and a speed circle
>fence and these are located on the south side or upwind. Down wind
>are residences and businesses. To the east are picnic areas, trees,
>and soccer fields crowded with people.
>

Where the heck you gonna find an unpopulated area in Southern Ca.
other than the desert :-)

>5. Put fuel shutoffs of some kind on the engines should a wing 
>depart from the fuselage.
>
>6. Install a drag chute in the fuselage should the wing depart
>from the fuselage.
>

5 & 6 don't sound too bad provided the frequency of accidents justify
the cost. Ever try to get the city to install a stop sign or light
at what you and possibly many others may feel is a dangerous
intersection?

>These are suggestions that I will be e-mailing to the AMA. If
>you netters want to discuss the pros and cons or want to offer
>any more suggestions, you are welcomed. I feel that something
>must be done. It is just a matter a time before an accident 
               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>happens and should a fatality occurs, you can kiss this hobby
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>goodbye!
 ^^^^^^^

This statement smacks of scare tactics. When you write the AMA ask
them how many actual fatalities have occurred as a direct result
of an RC anything accident. I think you might be surprised to find
that the number is > 0.
>
>Lyman Lew, lew@caesi.scg.hac.com
>

-- 
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phil blais  N6KXD AMA 12662      ITT    Aerospace Communications Division
dcdwest!plb@ucsd.edu           DEFENSE    10060 Carroll Canyon Road
 (619) 578-3080					San Diego, CA 92131