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A Main Hobbies . Boca Bearings . Modefo's RC Helicopters

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Photos and Movies > Fire! The Heli HeatWave 2003
 
 
Heli-DriverElite Veteran - Location: Arlington, TX -


Len Mount's Gas Turbine Kiowa sitting in the grass staged for his next flight with a roaring fire behind the ship.

The fire was caused by a graphite X-Cell that went down in flames and caused a fire in the tall dry grass which quickly spread.

Firetrucks arrived, three I think and finally got the grass fire under control, no one was injured but the X-Cell was a total loss, the guy couldn't get to it before it was engulfed in flames and unapproachable due to the grass burning around it. Not sure what happened, I didn't see it go in.

Here's a link to the folder on my website with some pics, they're all 1024x768 so it may take a little time to look at them on a slow connection but it is well worth it..

http://www.helidriver.com/heatwave2003/



Raymond

Predator Gasser SE/231 X 2
Century Helicopters
07-20-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
irq
Key Veteran
Location: San Diego, CA

Holy **** @ the fire... damn man. Gotta keep the grass short (or wet) at funflies!
07-20-2003 Over year old.
 
 
irq
Key Veteran
Location: San Diego, CA

I would really appreciate any further information people may have about just how it caught on fire...
07-20-2003 Over year old.
 
 
TaipanKey Veteran - Location: Sydney, Australia -
Holy smokes!

A thousand apologies for the bad pun.

This pic of the X-Cell makes me feel sick to the gut.

07-20-2003 Over year old.
 
 
fitenfyr
rrProfessor
Location: Port Orchard, Washington

Two words...Fire Extinguisher...

My condolences about the ship...Bad way to loose one... That said


I've been fighting fires for about 8 years now and I can safely say guys this kind of fire is NOT necessary...
This time of year a simple ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher. Like the kind you SHOULD carry in your car will put a stop or at least slow down a grass fire like this. You would be AMAZED at how much fire especially common combustibles (like grass) can be put out with a little household extinguisher (the 10.00 kind at the department stores) and some training. If you have never been taught how to use one get to the local Fire Department and see about a class for your club. They are painless (about 1 hour of your time) and are usually FREE!
If you are going to have a fun fly at a location like this I would suggest a phone call or stop by to the local fire house to give them a heads up.
MAYBE you might even get them to come down and water the grass for you a bit before the event. Especially if it is a volunteer company they look for any old excuse to spray water.

In case you haven't caught it on the news but there is a MAJOR heat wave running all through the US and most experts predict this to be the WORST fire season to date. Already about 32 wildfires burning on the west coast. Boy the news would have had a field day if that sucker got even more out of hand before the Fire crews arrived.



As for how it started easy. HOT muffler or overheated clutch and a few minutes head start on the pilot.

Ok off with the firemans hat (you know the kind with the flashing red light. )

Have fun and keep this kind of stuff in the back of your head at the field fun fly or not....

And yes I do have one in my Truck at all times.

Jason Stiffey
Fly Fast....Live Slow...
07-20-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
IsaaX
Senior Heliman
Location: Cerritos, CA

Man, that really sucks that had to happen, but I gotta say, that pretty much got Augusto beat when it comes to helis catching on fire.

Once again, sorry for the loss.
07-20-2003 Over year old.
 
 
Secret Squirrel
Key Veteran
Location: New Zealander living in Melbourne, Australia

Aside from the fire,

That Kiowa is just something else isn't it? I mean look at it, if it weren't sitting in the grass where you can get an idea of the scale you'd think it were the real thing.

Now a really cool picture would have been the Kiowa flying through the smoke .

Si

-------------
Simon Lockington
07-20-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
IsaaX
Senior Heliman
Location: Cerritos, CA

That Kiowa does look scale. That really looks good! Bravo to the builder!
07-20-2003 Over year old.
 
 
fitenfyr
rrProfessor
Location: Port Orchard, Washington

Except...

For the big holes in the side....
I have heard he built this for fun and to play with the turbine some, but you would think he could have found a less obvious place for the exhaust. Like maybe out the bottom or top?

Jason Stiffey
Fly Fast....Live Slow...
07-20-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Secret Squirrel
Key Veteran
Location: New Zealander living in Melbourne, Australia

Ah yeah, hadn't seen those outlets .

So that's his FUNFLY machine? Damn! I'd love to see his serious one then!

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Simon Lockington
07-20-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Heli-Driver
Elite Veteran
Location: Arlington, TX

Simon,

Did you not see Len Mounts Dauphin he built. OMG!!!

Man you talk about precision scale... I couldn't believe it when I saw it... yeah, that good and then some.

Len is no slouch when it comes to scale, this "Sport Scale" would have blown most scale guys away with their trickedout machines.. but this is truely a sport scale according to Len.

Those huge turbine exhausts on either side would be a huge point killer but you simply overlook it when she's flying, Len really can drive that sucker too.

BTW_ Did I mention the pod on top "ET" is remote controllable? Too sweet!

Regarding the fire, well if you think you could have snuffed this one out before it got out of hand please think again.

First off, the heli went down a good ways out from the pilot station... It wasn't until the pilot approached the heli did he realize a fire was going. He didn't have a FE with him when he walked out to the crash site, who does???

The grass was near waist high, very thick and very dry. It hadn't rained in a few weeks here and the temp was 102 on Saturday when this happened and has been near 100 for the last 5 days, a lightly southerly breeze fanned the fire to 20 foot flames in no time.

So there was the typical confusion at first, then when we realized what was happening (seconds later) the extinguishers came out as did a water hose and countless chests of precious ice and water to no avail... FD was called immediately and took about 3-4 minutes to respond, the rest is as they say "History".



Raymond

Predator Gasser SE/231 X 2
Century Helicopters
07-20-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Jeff Swartz
Key Veteran
Location: Ohio

WOW!!
07-21-2003 Over year old.
 
 
fitenfyr
rrProfessor
Location: Port Orchard, Washington

Sounds like an effort..

Raymond,
Sounds like an attempt was made. Don't mean to come off sounding like you can stop them all. Just trying to make everyone think about this.
Like I said though take those suggestions back to your clubs and put them to good use.

Jason Stiffey
Fly Fast....Live Slow...
07-21-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
cdrking
Elite Veteran
Location: Seattle

Damn Raymond,

You boys down south know how to do it up right. Good barbeque, great scale ship. I hope I make it to the next event. I will bring my fire extinguisher to the fun fly. But I'll wait till it rains to crash my machine.

Was down in Laredo today, 100 degrees. Way too hot for this Seattle guy.

Jeff

To hover is divine, the alternative is rather PLANE.
07-21-2003 Over year old.
 
 
Nige
Senior Heliman
Location: Hull, UK

Len Mount's Gas Turbine Kiowa

A short video clip of Len's OH-58.

http://www.runryder.com/helicopter/.../len_oh58-1.zip
07-21-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
wjvail
Senior Heliman
Location: Meridian, Mississippi

That has got to be the crash of the year... the mother load...

Bill Vail
07-21-2003 Over year old.
 
 
teamrcpilot
Heliman
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A.

Heat wave from the Air

I can say that was some fire. I got the video from the ground and the air of the fire. ( Reviewing the tape showes the people acting rather quickly to putting out the fire. The wind and the tall grass were just too much.

It was huge !!!

Hey RaptorDriver - can I use the photo on my website and give you a link to you site?

Im in the process of making the DVD as I speak of the event. The air shots of the event will be a nice addition. Special thanks to Summit Helicopters of Addison, Texas for the ride.

Raymond Cervantes
studiostop@aol.com
www.teamrcpilot.com
07-21-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
JimmyY2KWS6
Senior Heliman
Location: Miami, Florida

ouch!

Jimmy

Fury Tempest 3D Fury Expert 60
07-21-2003 Over year old.
 
 
BigRob
Veteran
Location: Long Beach, CA

FIRE FIRE!!

Sweet. Hate to see a crash, but love the pics.


The one......
the only...
The BigRob
07-21-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Heli-Driver
Elite Veteran
Location: Arlington, TX

Ray,
You're more than welcome to use any of the photos on TeamRCPilot, you can DL them to your site or link them to mine. I'll be keeping these on the server for a while...

BTW_ It was funny when you blew by me in a full run with your camera (away from the fire as I was approaching it) and all you said as you ran by me was "We're Going Up!", then I saw you jump in the Heli and you guys took off...

Fidman, that was a glow engine, not sure which but the carb was a 3 needle OS for sure, I noticed it had a round head, so we first assumed it was an old Webra.

Jeff,

I hear ya brother, it gets hot down here and even hotter down in Laredo... but we do enjoy helis in a big way and those guys down at the Thunderbirds field really know how to run an event.

And don't think the heat just bothers you guys from up north, it's hot as hell to us too, we just put up with a few months of heat so we can fly year round...

Simon, I found some pics of the heli I was talking about. I thought it was an Augusta but it's actually a Dauphin. Check this thing out...

http://www.lenmountscalefuselages.com/dauphing.htm



Raymond

Predator Gasser SE/231 X 2
Century Helicopters
07-22-2003 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
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