Heli's not welcome in your club?

[JeeUm]

Just found out that they're not welcome in one of my clubs here in NY. I was told last week that it was ok to fly heli's at the field as long as the plane flyers that were there that day did'nt have a problem with it. Ok, great. I'll come out and bring my heli's. Today, the owner of the field shows up, makes a complete ass out of himself with a lovely display of FOG at it's finest about someone flying heli's. He's told it was discussed at the meeting and it was going to be allowed from now on, with the restrictions mentioned above. By the way, I was not the one who told him.

So tonight I recieve a mass email from the club president talking about heli's and that only fixed wing is allowed at the field and don't make me enforce the rules. My reply to him was don't plan on seeing me at the field again,nor will I be renewing my membership in a club that has this type of hostility in it's membership. Fine, it's their club and they can do as they please. I understand that, but don't have to agree.

Here's my question, what the hell is wrong with flying helicopters at a AMA flying field? As everyone here knows, I'm mainly a plane flyer, but also fly heli's. I've never had a problem with heli's flying at the same field as I do. It's very easy to get along. Heck, my club in NC has about a 60/40 Heli/plane mix to it and we never have any problems. So someone give me a good explaination of why a club that is struggling to maintain and attract members would have a rule like this?

If your wondering, the name of the club is "The Waywayanda flyers" in Orange county,NY. As a side note, they currently dont allow jets either. God I hate the politics in these clubs, ruins the hobby in many ways for me.

[Toro]

That blows JM... Hard to say.... The way I see it, A heli turns into a fixed wing when in FFF. When hovering its just a variable pitch 700mm prop job doing some huckin, and torquin. Whats next, will they ban helis from general aviation airports because they are different ? and hover ? What ever.... With tudes like that who needs em'

T

[JeeUm]

Hey Toro, good to see you around. I agree on what you said 100%. There's no difference in a heli doing 3D in front of you and a gasser doing 3D in front of you.

[cal_mag]

The people who complain may not like Big Gassers doing 3D or Helis, because they can't or don't think they are supposed to do that. Also they may be jealous of the massive skill difference. It also may be easier for them to complain about the Heli's since they only know how to fly planes and heli's are an easier target, like Jets going too fast. I like it all and can't fly a heli to save my life and won't get into jets too $$$. I'd like to fly where everyone is accepted and allowed to fly without all the B.S.

[excelpoint]

Over here in Oz we also get a lot of heli V plane arguments. At one of my clubs the main issue was the pilots on the flightline were a bit intimedated when a heli was landing right in front of them a lot of the time in idle up mode. Our solution was to make the heli landing and take off place to one side of the flightline, also in order to fly helis on the main runway you must be able to demonstrate the ability to join the circiut if need be ie forward flight. If you are not up to forward flight yet then we have an area set aside for hovering etc which is well away from the main runway.

[JeeUm]

See, thats all it takes is a little flexibility and heli's and planes can get along just fine. To ban them outright is just ridiculous.

[ConRadical]

I feel your pain! I too dropped my membership at one of my clubs because of all the politics. It really does take the fun out of things whenever there's a bunch of guys who don't fly trying to make rules. Same club tried to impose a rule that you had to attend 5 out of the 6 club meetings a year to keep your membership. Complete wacko's!!

[cal_mag]

It comes down to common sense and common courtesy. They go real far if everyone has them.

[ConRadical]

	Quote: Originally Posted by cal_mag
	It comes down to common sense and common courtesy. They go real far if everyone has them.

Agreed.. I myself might walk out on the runway sometimes while i'm torqin or whatnot, if i hear another person crank their plane wanting to take off i move back off the runway.

[madmax]

Not to take this OT, but I'm callin' BS on this whole Jee'um compassion for the heli-man. I mean, come on, 2 months ago you were all like - "dude, heli's suck maaan!". That's allright my friend, I admit I am a MAJOR heli boy myself, (gotta get dem pics of the trex back online). Just kick ass and take names Jim.

[choppedlow]

As esteemed president of Yuma Aeromodelers, I am at the moment having problems with this very issue. By all means, helis are legal, but there is one ass, who wants to make it a big deal. He called before sundays meeting, to let me know that the heli problem was still there, and there was a crash, yada yada yada. This ass of a guy has almost killed many with his poor flight sessions with a fixed wing, and shouldn't throw stones, but those are the guys who make it hard. He wants me to enforce the "spotter" rule, which the guy flying is supposed to have a person standing with him to help. Thing goes, is the the AMA guy told me that there is a "spotter" rule for planes as well. So this jerk is going to make a stink and make it so I have to enforce evey little rule to make him happy. We did have one guy (old pres.) who would fly off the work benches, fly over the pits, and do autos in the middle of where we were landing, but I didn't care. Only a few of the old guys who are still living in the past. Once apon a time, the poored a concrete pad, 25'X25' for those who want to learn to hover, but it was poored in the wrong place. And if you want to fly around, you have to do it where the planes fly. Bottom line, at least at my club, is that they pay dues like the rest. Its not life or death that you have to wait ten minutes for the Heli guy to land and then go back to planes. And it goes to show that the guys in the clubs that cause the problems, are usually the problem. But they are still Heli-bitches! (but im want a trex)

[STR8HUCKIN]

yes t-rex good