This past weekend at a full scale fly-in taking place at a private airport, an RC airplane was hit by a full scale Pitts during a "RC flight demo".

It is very important to mention that the full scale Pitts was landed safely and both occupants were unharmed.

Considering that many RC demos take place at full scale shows, and some RC shows take place at open full scale airports, I'd like you the modeling community to weigh in with your thoughts on how this accident could happen.

I have seen full scale/RC shows run with no issues at all. By using a dedicated Airboss, mobile radios, alert systems, and PA systems, the events run with both full scale traffic and RC flight traffic.

Like it or not this is huge news, and as a modeling community the situation needs to be addressed and discussed, not simply ignored or buried.

So please, let us know your thoughts.


The video of the incident:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3GHqMObjcM

lots went wrong there!

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Before we all start to speculate, it might be a good idea to hear what the RC pilot and spotter involved have to say...it sounds like there was a chain of events that caused an unfortunate accident. There are some details in the comments on the YouTube video.

Until I hear the facts, it is just an unfortunate incident.

Some unfortunate choices made by several people...

and we, as a group, will be the ones to feel the effect in the long run....

Glad they landed safely.

Well, as much as I hate to say it because my club field is on airport property, we are always told that full scale planes have the right of way. There was a huge break down in communication with everyone involved here and if you have been reading in the AMA magazines lately, they (FAA) is cracking or wanting to crack down on models flying near airports or where full scale traffic operates. The RC pilot had someone next to him with what looks like a radio near the beginning of the video at like 32 seconds in. The guy with the radio looks in the direction of the full scale Pitts and is talking into the radio before this happens. So, what was he saying and was he indeed talking to the pilot of the Pitts? If he knew the intentions of the pilot were to make a high speed pass down the runway, then he failed to communicate that to the RC Pilot and he failed to alert the Pitts pilot that someone was operating a 46% plane over the runway. I have flown at fly-ins where full scale planes have made passes as I am sure several have. With that said, I have never been in the air the same time that plane or planes make there passes due to the chance of something like this happening. They are so lucky that the pilot and passenger in that Pitts survived. Not a good thing for all of us fellow RCers though. This is fuel for the fire.

Jay

..

Hard to tell who to blame for this.

Lots of unknown factors, was there a Airboss in charge of the full size planes, and traffic?

Was permission given to do the RC demonstration? If so, and if that was the airboss in the video with the radio, why didn't he give the RC pilot more notice of the Pitts takeoff, or landing approach?

Was the Pitts landing? Taking off? Either way the airboss should have know, and let the RC pilot know sooner.

"COMMUNICATION"

From 1:03-1:05 you can hear the guy with the radio say he didnt know of the pitts going through

4:44 listen to that he says he DID NOT ANNOUNCE THE GO AROUND

I was following the whole last thread.


What I have to say is we can't blame the RC pilot, neither the FS pilot.
<O</O


For me it was the lack of the event staff communication that caused the incident.
<O</O


Sure the FS plane have the preference as any problem with it could bring bigger consequences than a RC plane crashing, but there is not anything the RC pilot could do if he got authorization to fly around.
<O</O


The RC pilot wasn't doing anything dangerous or impudent either. Just hovering at the runway.
<O</O


Another proof of the event communication problem is you can hear other airplanes being started up around, what leads me to understand that was a RC flying window or flying moment, whatever.
<O</O


Just my two cents.

Originally Posted by DEVZAK9

If you listen really carefully you can hear the guy on the radio tell the pits to peel off to the left and the pitts responded back but threw on the smoke and "poured the coles" to the engine and went straight down the runway

Interesting.....

Sleepy, as I see it the event was poorly organized with no forethought of what is required for safe operations for the full scale and the rc scale demo's to take place. Full knowledge of everyone involved as to when, were and what is to take place at it's designated time and how it will be operated with safety officer's in place and what to do "in case of" was not fully consided. Although I am not aware of the complete details of the bigger picture here, it is hard to make an opinion on this because of not knowing the promotion and involvement by full scale, rc scale, the airport, and the organizer as to what the itinerary and reason was behind this event. On the outside looking in I would say lack of clear organization and management of this event.



Bryce

Originally Posted by Bryan185

"COMMUNICATION"