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Women Pilots > Has anyone gotten hassled at the field?

Heliwoman
Heliman
Location: Edson, Alberta, Canada

Field attitudes

Hi,

I will agree with most of you all that some times and some field you see that attitude toward heli's and especially female heli's. We have two of us here and both of us have experenced the same attitude.

There is to attitudes you have to deal with as a heli pilot there is the old plank guys that think they are unsafe even thought these are the guys that everytime they start up their planes you cring because they've almost got there langierd in the prop again or thier planes controlls are backwards again. And then there are those that just don't like the fact that they cannot land at any time that they want.

My husband is both an airplane and heli pilot and he even got the attitude when we both first started the heli's. Lately he's been flying his heli more and more (were building a new field and the grass is not right yet) and last month at the GWCFF (GREAT WEST CANADIAN FUN FLY) he realized that he is no longer an airplane guy. Yes he still flys the planes but the difference in attitude between the Heli's and airplanes has made him see that he is in his heart a heli guy.
He also was flying his plane and did find it very hard to land when a heli was up. The heli was flying at the enterence of his approach with should have been fine, but he found it very distracting to be able to land. He said he never realized it befor but it does make a difference. You cannot here your plane or how your engine is doing when there is a heli on the field. Most will agree with him that Heli's make a lot more noise.

And then there is the attitude of the wives of those plank pilots. The majority of them are in the senior classification and they do still have the OLD BOYS CLUB mentality.....Sorry guy to offend but that is how we new guys feel some times...

Although you will find that generally the hobby is getting younger and younger and that is a good thing although us younger people all seem to want to fly faster and louder things. But that is how technology grows.

All and all you will find that the hobby is turning thier ideals toward the heli's. So lets all have some patients and stop the pissing contests. Just get out there and fly and don't let the attitude stop you..... We don't have to own the field but we do tend to want to fly more then the planks....

09-16-2007 06:15 PM

TachyonDriver
Senior Heliman
Location: Chipping, Lancs, UK

I know this is in the women's section, but this thread certainly sparked off a lot of replies by guys

It made for an interesting read. The whole club attitude thing is why me and my friend don't fly at a club, for now. We get BMFA insurance via the UKRA anyhow (UK Rocketry Association). Sadly my wife isn't into helis.......YET!

Anyway I found the comment about being made to fly in a 10' by 10' area incredulous.
Just because we heli flyers only need a 3'x3' to land in

doesn't mean that our machines can't fly at a reasonable rate of knots all over the sky. Heck, if someone else is having a problem, we can stop the model dead in the air whenever and wherever we want, you plank-flying simpletons! NOTE - none of the model plane flyers in this thread are simpletons due to the fact that they're on a heli forum

Anyway, has anyone ever found out WHY the plane pilots, or plane supporters have an attitude against helis? Putting gender issues of women getting hassled aside for a second, is it generally thought that helis are more dangerous than planes because of the rotor? (Propeller envy!!

) At least they can hover whilst under control. Yes, I know there is a trend for planes that hover on the prop these days, but "usually" a plane has to keep moving whilst under control, AND use a runway to land. Just curious as to what gives the fear to these people and how it can be overcome - any model of reasonable performance that weighs a few pounds needs to be given respect, even some RC cars!

Tach.

Little Spinning Bundle of Joy®

10-06-2007 11:38 PM

Mutt
Veteran
Location: t ca usa

TachyonDriver I find that most of the plane guys that dont like helis are either misinformed about them and thier workings and thats why they dont like them. I have found in our club that if someone takes the time to explain something then peoples attitudes change. There will always be the exception to the rule. Another reason I have found and this applys a lot under the exception to the rule the heli hater is that way becasue they are jealous that they CAN NOT fly one.

10-07-2007 12:30 AM

captor03
Heliman
Location: USA

Mutt,

You hit the nail on the head. I know one particular person at the club I belong to attempt to fly a heli. He didn't ask anyone for help, and it went into the ground. Now all he does is bash helis. I also realized that many of the old timers don't like change. They see the helis flipping back and forth and don't understand the concept because its not a piper cub drifting through the air. I spoke with a district vise president of the AMA and was informed that planes could be more dangerous than helis. When a heli has a problem in the air, it tends to come straight down. Mind you the heli flies in front of you, so you can basically say its coming down over the field. If a plane goes out of control where the pilot can't control it, it becomes a lawn dot. We had one plane at our club go out of control and cross over a major highway, and land in a large retail parking lot a quater mile or so away. Good thing it did't hit a car on the highway, or someone in the parking lot. Yesterday I went to a club I belong to but never fly at, and the safety officer came up to me and said "if your going to start your heli I would suggest you do it on the ground where its safe, so when the blades turn, it won't hit the sides of the bench". Obviously it was an airplane bench I was on. I then had to explain to him the heli has a clutch in it. He was a nice guy, but just didn't know the mechanics of the machine. If you ask me there are alot of good people in this hobby both heli fliers, and plank people. All the arguments about the two technologies is just a waist of negative energy. Neither bird is going away.................

XCELL

10-16-2007 11:10 AM

Mutt
Veteran
Location: t ca usa

Quote
All the arguments about the two technologies is just a waist of negative energy. Neither bird is going away

That is so true and the thing is why should either go away? What really burns me up are the heli haters and the plane haters both are so closed minded and blinded in thier thinking it is not funny. switch26 has flown at the club I belong to and has since joined it he cant believe how the plane guys and heli guys get along. he was so impressed with that it is what sold him on the club. Pretty awesome when your sitting there and a plane only guys come walking past saying cool more helies.

10-16-2007 12:49 PM

Altrex
Heliman
Location: West Bend, WI

good thread. I guess I am fortunate enough to be a member at one club that has plenty of space for helis and planks (although you can see there are few people with interest in both) and another club that doesn't care at all and share the same airspace. Kinda cool that I can walk out on the field with the heli and no one tries to go up because they would rather watch. Probably hoping for a crash

10-16-2007 03:52 PM

TachyonDriver
Senior Heliman
Location: Chipping, Lancs, UK

Quote
He was a nice guy, but just didn't know the mechanics of the machine

Afterwards you could have joked that you will heed that piece of advice as and when you want to start the heli by flicking the rotor blades with your finger

Incidentally I suppose that's one safety point in favour of helis - we cannot fire 'em up with a finger even if we wanted to.

Tach.

Little Spinning Bundle of Joy®

10-18-2007 10:40 PM

flynbryan
Heliman
Location: Long Island N.Y.

The cold shoulder

May I butt in? All I can say is that people who disagree with the helicopter, Can't fly one! To those people I say SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK! HA HA HA
You ain't livin until you can fly one of these puppys!
TEACH ANYONE YOU CAN !!!!!!!!!!!!

10-22-2007 03:16 AM

f14tomcatfreak
Senior Heliman
Location: rochester,ny us

i fly rc jets as well as rc helicopters. the bottom line is heli pilots just have to be a better pilot than the planker pilots. the planker pilots are all just intimidated that they are better pilots :

they can make up all the excuses they want :

helis are more complex to fly and that alone is what makes them more intiadating to planker pilots

02-17-2008 09:44 PM

flynbryan
Heliman
Location: Long Island N.Y.

The cold shoulder

I take it even further, I show up with a stunt plane and a helicopter. That pisses people off. Practice, practice, practice.

02-18-2008 12:02 AM

Camp
Senior Heliman
Location: Easton, PA

I remember reading this when it started and it seemed to me a common bias of older club members. I once tried to join an airplane club when I started with planes but the older members insisted on a probation period with an extra charge, monthly check flights during the probation with a charge for each and an monthly additional charge for non-member field usage during the probation all while paying full member dues.

I basically got the impression they really didn't want new members.

Do you think these attitudes have lessened now over the years?

Of course I'm just a small electric flyer as my position in life has changed so dramatically but I'm always keen on the current club mentality and will someday be able to get into something above a 450.

Sorry, for woman content, I'm teaching my 13 yr old daughter to fly a HoneyBee King every time I get to see her. Amazing how kids pick up the skills so much faster than adults.

02-25-2008 11:52 PM

Rcer22
Veteran
Location: Somewhere In The Adirondack Mountains

Any one been to a field where they were so against non members that they wouldn't let you bring you car in not even to unload it?
Sure you can fly all you want. All you have to do is walk in with your stuff. Not too far from the road just a hundred yards. "We're only allowed to have club members cars in the parking lot."
Here's another one.
"Before you can fly your plane or heli here someone has to check it out first by flying it around the field." It's a safety precaution.
The guy that want's to fly it just crashed two other ones claiming that there was something wrong with them and it's a good thing that he had the sticks.
I personally don't like to let any one fly my stuff unless I've seem them fly theirs first.
At least now with the new 2.4 gig sets they can't say the pin is out.
Has anyone been to a field where they told you there was no flying from this hour to that hour because they were having lunch?
Luckily neither have I.

Keep Your Eyes On The Heli And Your Fingers Up On The Sticks!!

02-26-2008 11:58 AM

HOMEPAGE

jpleth
New Heliman
Location: Palmdale, Ca

Most heli pilots fly both. The guy must have been having a bad day and would have gotten in trouble anywhere he went. As long as everyone plays by the same rules there should be no problems.

03-07-2008 05:49 AM

jbock24
Senior Heliman
Location: Loveland, Ohio USA

I belong to a AMA club where I live, 100.00 a year mostly people older than me, real great guys some are as old as copter docter even.
Ha ha, stab stab,,, my LHS owner is the vice president, I purchased
my heli from him have spent not major money but several thousand
at least, after its all said and done at our annual meeting I was informed I can't fly a helicopter out at our place, after alot of crying
I have been told I can fly as long as I'm alone or anyone thats there
must agree its ok. I have to laugh I fly planks also I was never told of the no heli rule before,or after I paid my dues for 2008,or while in the process of building the 600N, or when I ordered the MD fuselage.
When it's done and I'm outta money OH YOU CAN'T FLY A NITRO HELI OUT THERE..... Nice.

if you can't beat em, sneak up from behind..

04-04-2008 12:33 AM

Rcer22
Veteran
Location: Somewhere In The Adirondack Mountains

What's wrong with these people?

All this BS about not being able to fly a heli at the local field. What's wrong with these PPL. You pay your dues and they still break your chops. I like the ones that when they see you in the air they suddenly realize that they could be flying their plane and they are actually stupid enough to say something about it. Meanwhile they're sitting around all day and not even flying.

Keep Your Eyes On The Heli And Your Fingers Up On The Sticks!!

04-08-2008 08:46 PM

HOMEPAGE

flynbryan
Heliman
Location: Long Island N.Y.

I got it good. There are no sanctioned fields close to me. Me and two other people are the only ones that fly at our spot. There is no one to tell me I can't fly. I bring the plane and the helicopter. Hell, even the local police come and watch me fly. I was flying the .50 size nitro with the beautiful Century Hughes 500 fuselage with custom lights. Around here not many people have seen a model like that before so everyone loves to see it fly. I feel bad for those of you who have problems at the field. The best part is that I always have the sky to myself. I'm the best pilot at the field.

04-08-2008 10:41 PM

HelividD
Heliman
Location: Auburn Hills, MI, USA

The funny thing is that it is not only the heli -v- plank flyers(which probably most have faced and I attribute to old people "sometimes" and change), but we as heli pilots also. There are attitudes towards one another for the types of machines that are being flown. It is unfortunate.

I have been told "oh thats out of your budget" and "I am not sure why all of these new people buy used helicopters" and more. The funny thing is that these things were said a while ago to me and about me(and I don't forget anything) and were indeed insulting and were said by one person that was a field rep for one company and the other is a field rep and who's son flies for another.

There is a local field(and I am not saying any names) that alot of the guys used to belong to and almost every time I have gone there, there is a level of arrogance that is astounding. Its not that these guys are that great of pilots to be honest(and I have spoken with alot better and world renound and they are much better people)but I think that there are going to be jerks no matter what level.

For the longest, I also flew with a great bunch of guys. I got out of the hobby and recently got back in(in october). This group, we all have a great time every Sat or Sunday and I am glad to say our skills are progressing. As alot of people said, the club scene is not for everyone, however the safety factor cannot be ignored and if no other reason, I think that this is what AMA is good for. However, this is not for everyone and as others have said there are not always sanctioned fields near, or the sactioned fields have attitudes as mentioned for whatever crazy reason...

I believe strongly that as others have stated, with this hobby, we should all stick together whether it is FW or RW. The economy isn't the greatest and hobbies are a luxury more than ever. No one needs to be driven off from something they enjoy or pay for....

Great flying to all!!!!

Man.... I had no idea what an addiction this was going to be.....

04-30-2008 02:23 PM

Heliwoman
Heliman
Location: Edson, Alberta, Canada

Hi Everyone,

I guess my husband and I have been lucky. We've moved a couple times and each time found a club in the town we lived in. Each time we arrived at the field for the first time, the comments were "Do you have your stuff with you? We'll get it out and lets fly!" and when they found out that it was a family sport for us, we all fly something if its not planes, it's Heli's.

Although I have to agree with the having a club inspect and do a preflight on all new members planes. but you can spot the newbees, verses the experience pilots by their preflight set up and Check list.

Also at all the Clubs we have been a member of The club fees for the first year were always free, this encourages more members to join and you tend to have members stay longer.

Also recently We started hitting all the Funflys in the area and I have generally found that the Heli pilots are friendlier and treat everyone like an old friend.

Anyway, Hope everyone has a great season.

05-12-2008 06:13 PM

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