RunRyder - Kids at the flying site

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e-E-Sky Honey Bee- Lama- Belt CP- E-Smart > Kids at the flying site

Camp
Senior Heliman
Location: Back in PA, hopefully soon VT

I've been flying in an office parking lot next door after office hours with no problems, it's got a huge lot with a large field adjacent.

Twice now the owner has come out working late to watch and talk and expressed an interest in getting one (I told him if he gives me a job I'll help him with it, joking of course), but he's ok with my flying there.

Went over tonight to fly a couple of packs but next door acroos the field and fenced I might add is an old LaneCo lot that has been closed for a few years. Apparently kids get ball games going there.

I got to flying and was doing some nice FF when a flood of kids came around the fence and over the drainage ditch cause they saw the heli in the air. I kinda feel bad about it but I had to land and pack up. Too many kids and too much risk. Part of me wanted to let them watch but Jeeze, who can take that risk?

All the kids were saying "Aaaw, don't quit". Got a 1/2 pack off and that was it. I'm glad the owner wasn't there as I'm sure he would have seen the liability I saw and shut me down for good.

Where do you draw the line at letting kids watch who might be future hobbeasts (yes beasts) and taking the risk of something happening? Who knows right? Even with a HBK I could never forgive myself if something happen to a kid let alone what a court would do.

Hopefully, they won't remember too long that I was flying there or I'm going to have to find someplace else. It was nice to carry my heli and TX over and just fly. Bummed, I'd hoped for some flight time after being grounded for a week.

03-12-2008 12:19 AM

TJinGuy
Elite Veteran
Location: Socorro, NM - USA

I had a similar thing happen to me today. I got the heli out and just plugged the battery in when 2 kids came walking around the corner. Once they saw the heli they came straight over. Both of them were probably 5th graders? One went over and took a seat on my trailer like he was going to get a great show. The other started asking questions, "How much did that thing cost?", "How high can it go?" and so on. I decided to humor their questions but then I asked them to please leave. My reason was simply that I couldn't fly with people watching because it made me nervous and I did want to crash. They reluctantly wandered off but if they wouldn't have, I would have just packed up and headed back into the house. A MiniT could really hurt someone and I am not about to take that chance. Plus I do get nervous and I didn't want to crash.

- Chris

Variety+spice+life+supporting_paper_towel_industry=
King2+Rex450+Protos+Concept30

03-12-2008 12:30 AM

thrstrmech
Veteran
Location: CA, USA

good call there, when i fly out front, my kids come out and stand at the sidewalks edge, have to ground the heli and get 'em back into the house, gonna find somewhere else to fly, don't want to join a club, the fees alone add up to more than heli itself, 1st club fee plus an additional initiationfee, then ama fee... than having to put up with the club jerk/arsehole, nah forget it, just wanna fly without the hastle and extra $$$ i don't have

03-12-2008 12:30 AM

DougsRC
Elite Veteran
Location: MA

You made the right choice

Damn I hate those two questions-- How high can it go and How much did it cost?

03-12-2008 12:40 AM

Dubs
Senior Heliman
Location: Jackson NJ

Good call on not flying around the kids. I also pack up and find another field when people are around. I have 3 spots and I always get lucky at one of them. I also think flying these small electric helis at a hidden field tp practice is much better than in a club if you are new to flying. I have seen club fields get very dangerous. I would go behind my truck to work on my helis because I like to keep an eye on what is flying around when I was near the field. We had the work benches close to the field and was not good. Plus some of the people where such A holes. It was Heli guys vs airplane guys and it would get ugly. This is no joke, we would hand out skull & crossbone stickers to heli guys that cut a plane up in the air. It was always accidental but we would be quietly laughing while looking the other way. This was back when the smallest heli at the field was a .30 nitro.

03-12-2008 12:58 AM

ut_neon
Key Veteran
Location: Coimbra, Portugal

DougsRC i hate 3 Questions:

how high can it fly?
is it electric or gasoline powered?
was it built in these magazines by numbers?

i hate when kids come to see... i always have to land because they don't go behind me. even if they're behind me theres still a risk but i always try to fly away from me and there i could say that was somehow safe. but they just go for random places and positions that i have to land and wait for them to leave. if not i will just pack and go home.

03-12-2008 01:03 AM

tryan02
rrProfessor
Location: Canton, Missouri

Quote
i hate when kids come to see... i always have to land because they don't go behind me. even if they're behind me theres still a risk

If your unsure of your skills dont do it or only fly in what your most comfortable with. But when the kids do come out and they will you need to stop land and explain to them like adults that the heli will cut them down to a bloody stump and you dont want to hurt anyone. Theres no reason to pack up and run away confront the situation explain yourself and have fun get used to the crowd cause heli pilots are cool everyone wants to do it and you have so your the coolest.

Otherwise the kids will just assume that guy that flies a heli is an azzhole. And that does not help promote the hobby. So please guys use good judgement for safety but keep flyin.

03-12-2008 01:25 AM

HOMEPAGE

ut_neon
Key Veteran
Location: Coimbra, Portugal

everytime i can i do that. but sometimes they just won't listen and parents are irresponsible. last time i had a kid that was always running agaisnt the helicopter... i had to land very far from me. well the helicopter is really fast so he would never had a chance to get to it before landing it

after i landed i asked his mother to be more cautious about it... i hit myself sometimes with my lama3 and it hurted sometimes so i wonder how would it be hitting anyone with a belt cp =X

03-12-2008 01:30 AM

tryan02
rrProfessor
Location: Canton, Missouri

BELTCP UUHHHH FFREAKIN BLOODY! In that case I guess it would be best to pack it up.

03-12-2008 02:03 AM

HOMEPAGE

Camp
Senior Heliman
Location: Back in PA, hopefully soon VT

Even the HBK I'm afraid that I might hurt someone other than myself. My kids watch but behind a snow fence. I do really regret having to scare kids off though. My 13 year old daughter flies better than I do and my 9 year old guy is a better builder than I am and they both seem to understand safety, they're good kids the both and they will exceed me by far.

I'm just thinking, is it safe to share the sport with others these days? I didn't feel comfortable yesterday. I think my girl might have kept flying her Trex, I don't have anymore than 2 week contact and she has her own Trex. I don't think she flies except when she sees me but I'm wondering now. I would when I was a kid.

We've had safety talks but when your 13, at least I was invincible at that age. I wish I could be there more but it's a major connect for her and her brother, he builds and she flies. I don't think I can stop them.

I worry.

03-12-2008 02:44 AM

tryan02
rrProfessor
Location: Canton, Missouri

You have every right to worry but sounds like you got a couple kids with good heads on their shoulders and damn this new PC America there is a point where safety ruins the fun of life.

03-12-2008 02:48 AM

HOMEPAGE

TJinGuy
Elite Veteran
Location: Socorro, NM - USA

Yup bikes, baseball, snow sledding, everything is dangerous but that doesn't mean that kids can't do it. They just have to be well informed and well watched after. Our world is quickly turning into a bubble wrapped, no germs, zero dirt world and that nothing but hurt us in the long run. Kids do hurt themselves. Kids do get sick. Kids to dumb things. That all helps make them who they are and if we take that away from them, we will pay for it later.

And I step off the soap box.

- Chris

Variety+spice+life+supporting_paper_towel_industry=
King2+Rex450+Protos+Concept30

03-12-2008 02:54 AM

ss454tom
Heliman
Location: Brooklyn NY

Kids

It also happend to me at a ball field. I landed my bird then turned to the kids, ansewred a few questions, Then looked at the oldest looking one in the group & asked him if he wanted to help me, with wide eyes he said YES!! I made him in charge kinda like a cop & told him if they wanted me to keep flying that he would have to keep everyone in the dugout. After 15 - 20 min I saw that that they were geting restless so I then packed it in.

Hey!! Do You Got A licence For That Thing

03-12-2008 03:18 AM

HOMEPAGE

hockeyrules99
Senior Heliman
Location: topeka KS

Quote

Well put! I sometimes forget that kids don't know its not like one of those helicopters they see on TV.

John

03-12-2008 03:21 AM

Nashville
Elite Veteran
Location: Music City USA

Being that I only fly large nitros I only fly at AMA fields. Our dues are next to nothing. AMA membership is worth it's weight in gold in this hobby. A million dollars insurance and you can fly at any funfly or event. We have kids come and watch all the time. They have to stay well behind the pits. All the rules are clearly stated. It's a blast flying for them. No issues.

I was Spektrum when Spektrum wasn't cool

03-12-2008 04:43 AM

olivethreesixty
New Heliman
Location: Charleston, SC

Nicely put J.D.

I'll learn in the abandoned field by my house but i look forward to the day that I can join the AMA and fly in front of something other than trees !!!

03-12-2008 05:46 AM

tryan02
rrProfessor
Location: Canton, Missouri

You should find that million dollar AMA insurance policy and read it thoroughly its worth its wait in lead unless your going to kill someone with a big nitro. Your homeowners policy is where they start sucking you dry first.

03-12-2008 02:55 PM

HOMEPAGE

Mighty Mouse
Senior Heliman
Location: Picayune, MS

The small light electrics, I love flying around kids. I think it is a great way to enhance the sport. They often want to pick up the sticks and give it a go, but can't allow that. Now I will say this. If you are a new flyer and have trouble controling a heli, kids have no place near the flying site. But if you are comfortable with your sticks and have confidence in your bird, kids love to watch. Of course there are obvious rules associated with the spectators. And I have had to leave when they are broken. They know that up front and follow them pretty well or I go home. I remember being a kid many many many years ago and would die to see a cox babe bee fired up and slung around with a line attached to it. Always a let down when it stopped.

I think the idea of having one "cop" kid is an great idea. I'll give that a try.

Here are a few of my rules when kids approach.

They stay at a particular locations. The "arena" location while the bird is in the air (generally a safety zone in case things go bad) and a "hanger" location. Much closer, but not enough heli gets stepped on.
Anyone leaving those locations, I stop flying and go home.
Sorry, but you cant fly my helicopter.
I allow them to hold the heli one at a time under supervision and may take turns retrieving it after some instructions.

There is a often a big difference in kids following rules. Some do very well, other have no respect for adult authority. Age of the kids must also be considered. Making adjustment to rules may be necessary. And flying may not be possible.

The bottom line is that no one should get hurt. If you have a good repore with childern, it is an awsome experience for them. If you are confident with your flying and they follow simple rules, it can be very rewarding. If not find a better site.

03-12-2008 02:59 PM

Texas Dar
Senior Heliman
Location: Branson-Hollister Mo. USA

tryan02 Very well put ! We want to have kids comming up today in our ranks someday. Some day, you young guys, will be "Us Old Guys"........! Turn it into a class room. Hey, anytime you have yr heli out side, you doing what you wanted to do anyways, spend time with it. I did, and will still do, take time to introduce the R/C, way of fun. Have them garther round, settlle down, and teach them as much as you can in 30 mins. Show them the TX, let them hold it,move the sticks around, and explane what ecah stick dose. Hold the chopper up,and point out what makes it work. Turn it on and show them what each stick dose,and how it makes the heli fly about. Then start it, ( 1976 ) and with them sitting 12 ft. back, spool it up to 1/4 stick, move the sticks, wile pointing out the tail wanting to turn, and move the main head around, and stop it,and ask for questions......! Then thank them, and tell them I came out to get in some flying, and ask them if they could go at least 500 away. I knew where they were and kept it close to me. When I was done I opened up the wagon, sign that they could come back and "Watch Me Pack Up".. I still got in a good day, and am sure 2-3 of them will be joining our ranks, some day. But, then im good with kids, im still a little boy on the inside.

Mommy Said, I Can "Come Out & Fly With You Guys"

03-12-2008 06:57 PM

HOMEPAGE

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