Tragedy in the Skies Over MVRCC Fort Lee Field

[SlowHuck]

It was a typical Winter day in Central Virginia, blustery and bright, but as long as the bare flesh was covered and you kept in full view of the sun, it was comfortable enough. Winds were straight down the runway, light and variable. A good day for flying, for February at least.

In attendance were Cory, Lyle and myself.

It was Cory's 24th birthday. He had soloed just last week and was flying with confidence, doing things with his Hobbico SuperStar trainer that would raise the eyebrows of more conservative pilots (look out Ellwood, you've got an up and coming protégé). But he was smiling and having a blast and that's what the hobby is all about.

Lyle brought his Rainbow Yak 54 and a darling little E-flite Pitts S-12 (don't let the size fool you, it flies much bigger than it is). After working through a few issues with the glow-powered Yak, he got it sorted out and put a few flights on it. Running the flight batteries too low for comfort, he set it aside to have some fun with the Pitts.

Cory pressed his schedule by fueling the SuperStar up "one more time," taxiing out and taking off, smiling with the triumph of a full day of solo flying.

With a brand new, fully charged 4C 2600 ThunderPower pack under the hatch, Lyle carried the Pitts out to the flight-line and lifted off shortly after Cory.

Both planes seemed to be very closely matched, speed-wise, and Lyle started a casual game of follow the leader with Cory. Finally noticing that he had a bi-winged bogie on his six, the young rookie began some defensive maneuvering. They were at about 200 feet, far side of the runway. Cory performed a tight aileron turn to the left, Lyle turned inside, then...

BANG!!!

The SuperStar's stout leading edge met the fuselage of the Pitts just behind the canopy.

Cory froze, and lack of experience did not tell him to cut the throttle. The now 1-1/2 winged trainer screamed into the weeds. Thump. The two major pieces of the Pitts, held together only by servo wires, fluttered slowly to the ground. Smallish bits of balsa floated downwind for a hundred yards. We'll be finding the remains of this incident scattered to the North end of the field for a while.

All three of us spent a while collecting the debris we could find. Most was found, the one costly component still lost in the weeds is Lyle's brand new LiPo. We gave up looking after about forty minutes. The motor, cowl and ESC all landed in the same place. The battery had actually disengaged itself from the Dean's connector, indicating that there were some mighty forces involved in the collision.

After the shock was over, the two victims shed the immediate heartbreak and became philosophical about the incident. What else are you going to do? After all, no one could have ever done that if they were actually trying to. Stuff Happens.

[crs22185]

Just ordered Tower's Uproar 40! Should be back in the air soon

-Cory

[SlowHuck]

	Quote: Originally Posted by crs22185
	Just ordered Tower's Uproar 40! Should be back in the air soon

Cool! Just keep in mind you can't go scratchin' your ass when that thing is in the air. It ain't no trainer! Then again... you been TRAINED!!!

[yellowman2513]

man, you should be writer the way you wrote the description of the day at the field ad stuff. that was great! I hate to here that, at least you know what caused the crash, which was having a ton of fun!!!!! I crashed my four star 60, still not knowing what caused the crash lost the signal. Congrats on buying the new plane. Have fun with it!!! thats what the hobby is all about!

[SlowHuck]

	Quote: Originally Posted by yellowman2513
	man, you should be writer the way you wrote the description of the day at the field ad stuff. that was great!

Thanks. I enjoy spinning and weaving words on those occasions when the muses visit. Love, tragedy and a good day at the flying field will prompt them to call. That day was the intersection of these elements. I had to mark the moment .

[robertp17]

I think that pitts is possesed! I had one that I had a lockout on 2.4 on and lost it on the third flight. I bought another one and had yet another radio issue that I wont get into but was not my fault and lost that one on the third flight. I gave up with it but I will say that yes it def. flies much bigger than it is. I liked it a lot.

[SlowHuck]

	Quote: Originally Posted by robertp17
	I think that pitts is possesed! I had one that I had a lockout on 2.4 on and lost it on the third flight. I bought another one and had yet another radio issue that I wont get into but was not my fault and lost that one on the third flight. I gave up with it but I will say that yes it def. flies much bigger than it is. I liked it a lot.

Hmm... Maybe you and Lyle ought to get together and start an E-flite M-12 junkyard. If both of you destroy a few more, you may have enough spare parts to give it a go.

[SlowHuck]

A few members walked the scene of the crash on Saturday and Lowell managed to spot the battery pack out much further than we had looked earlier. Lyle reported he has already replaced the Pitts airframe and should have it ready soon.

Cory returned on Sunday with his new replacement airframe, an Uproar 40. Excellent choice. Without hesitation (but with a few nervous jitters) he taxied it out, took off and started exploring its envelope. After five flights he was ripping up the sky and still smiling.

See. Even a tragedy can have a happy ending!

[as722]

With a tittle like that I thought someone died.Thank god it was just a toy plane.


Albert

[SlowHuck]

	Quote: Originally Posted by as722
	With a tittle like that I thought someone died.Thank god it was just a toy plane.

Tragedy comes in all sizes. Besides, it was TWO toy planes.

[ScaleNvyFlr]

Glad to see that the two of you could shake hands later!!

[Barn-E-Stormer]

I know the feeling.

My friend Robbie and I were playing a little follow the leader/formation flying. The Cub and Four Star drifted together while flying in formation and their landing gears became locked together. They made a beautiful slow spiral as they went down to their death.