Shade Canopies at Club fields and Airshows

[Pakratt76]

First Up, Easy up, Shade Tech, Pop-up shade canopies, and the likes.

I need to know what all you out there in the Model Flying and/or
Flying Giants world think about having shade canopies in the pit
areas with pilots and planes.

I myself have been to quite a few airshows and/or clubs that support this practice,
and myself, I prefer to have it this way. Not only does it help to keep the pilot away
from extreme heat exhaustion from direct sunlight in between flights, it also protects the
vital parts of the planes if you choose to put them under there with you. The flight line in this scenario is usually around 35 to 50 feet in front of the pits, just on the far side of the orange snow fence/ PVC flight stations. (just to clear that up)

I, personally, could see a shade canopy potentially helping out a pilot in the pits
between flights if there would be a stray plane headed his/her way from above…..
maybe the framing would help absorb some on the energy before it went into the pilot.
We all know things can get exciting at times….

Anyways……….A discussion came up at a club meeting, and some people are
against, while a good majority of people have their own canopies they use
every time they come out to fly and are for it.

(the comment that came up, is having pilot canopies behind the spectator fence, basically in our
parking lot, and having planes on the other side of our fence in the pits.
So, if you want to stay w/ your aircraft - whereas AMA says pilots, planes, helpers
and equipment is located in the pits, you will have no shade.)

This issue isn’t only directed towards air shows, it also includes general
every day visits to the club for flying.

Please, if you would, list your pros, cons and/or concerns in this
thread of this practice. If you were going to fly at an air show in the dead
middle of summer, would you want to be able to use your canopy?
Would you pack up and leave if you were not able to use it? Don’t care?

I’ve done a lot of searching on the internet , and was trying to find
an AMA official’s view of this and came up with nothing so far, except
where they say it’s a nice accessory to have with you, besides the extra CA, epoxy,
tools, etc… and I believe there was another wording on how a pit area was a
spectacular site that looked like a small city of tents……..

Now, before I send this question in the direction of the AMA, (although they are free to comment as well!)
I figured I’d get the opinions or views of my fellow flying friends here at the Flying Giants!!!

[exeter_acres]

Not quite sure what you are trying to find out...

but I use one at IMAC events

[sweetpea]

Every IMAC event I attend I bring one. I typically use it. For normal weekend flying I don't as I try not to be out as long as I would for IMAC.

My only concern is tiedown. They need to be staked, weighted down and/or tied to the fences.

I've been the CD where we had a dust devil fly through and 10 tents went flying and damaged some planes. No one's fault really but most of us had not restrained the tents as well as we could have. The following year, as the CD, I required restraints to the fence and brought extra ones to ensure it didn't happen again.

It becomes more difficult when you are putting tents on pavement.


I see no reason not to have them.

[Kitman]

As I travel around ith the Huckfests and even to other clubs, I always have mine with me! As Sweetpea said, there is no reason not to have them!!!!!! Tell those members to quit flying their mouth and start flying a plane! Tons of Fun!!

[NCFR "Lucky"]

Sounds like a bunch of GOF's that have nothing better to do but complain. It should not even be an issue with a club. I can not think of a single reason why they should not be allowed an as you have stated and seen, a lot of reasons FOR them to be allowed.

[gareth.ky]

I don't have one and haven't gotten one because it wont fit in my car along with everything else. I also had a health sunburn going this summer. Yet another reason I must get a trailer...

[SHANERC]

Come to our field, you can put your tent in the middle of the runway if you like!

on the for real, I like having my ez-up but I agree 100% on the tie it down thing . nothing worse
than a ez-up doing a rolling harrier

[Shoe]

Many of us over here in the Northeast area are using 2 of them, front to back. Guess our planes are too big. Never heard of anyone complaining.........ever.

[exeter_acres]

Why EXACTLY are the people in the OP's club against them??

find out what the beef is....

[flying skunks]

I carry three canopy's that I regularly use at events and fly-in's ..Here in Florida you would simply bake in the sun if you did not have some sort of shade ..oh yeah , cant forget the occasional shower ..

[zzw26n]

What's the Best Canopy to Buy? I remember someone saying brand-x?? would last a life time and very easy to put up?

[flying skunks]

I use the EZ-UP brand , not saying that they are the best , just got one heck of a deal when you go in and buy three ..

[sweetpea]

I've got an offbrand but its similar to EZ-up. Typically you can find an Ezup at Walmart for under $100

[exeter_acres]

EZ-Up for me.... worth the money!

I had one that lasted for 15 years!!!! yes, that is with regular use... finally died in a wind storm....
replaced it with an.......

EZ-Up!

[3Dguy]

Our club uses EZ-ups, and they're in the pit area, cause it's convienient and they can be tied to the adjacent fence.

CON: why in the world would the tents be placed in the parking lot? It's a useless place, and ur stuff is gonna get run over...Bring that up at the next meeting and smack them upside the head for being dumb.