[footsy]

Finally today I got to fly this sweet new "warm liner" in a good stiff wind. It's really nice to fly for $140 (arf, motor included) It has very thin wings and a sleek profile. I wanted something a little more sporty that my radian. In a strong wind, all I could do is dive, do a maneuver or 2 and dive some more. The Kunai has no issues with penetrating the wind and really sounds cool in a high speed dive. It's hard to resist using the throttle to either climb and dive strait down or just to see how fast you can make it go. I just ordered a 4 cell 850ma battery for it. Anyway, the price was amazing. It has a 1.4metre span.

the links didn't work so you'll have to click here to see the images
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...3&l=67fc39cf2c
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...3&l=550c091f93

[mwavesdave]

When I first saw the post, my gut reaction was NO! But having grown up in the region, and spending decades camping and backpacking the region, I get your point. I gave up on Banff as a backpacking destination decades ago. In my teens, we went to Kootenay, much more isolated, and far less packed with tourists. Marble Canyon was one of my favorite areas to base my trips from. Sadly, even that now is getting overrun. The National Parks should be all about the wildlife, but they're not, especially Banff and Jasper. It's all about tourist dollars, and big business. Electric gliders won't terrify the wildlife, pollute, or ruin the tourist experience. At worst, Chris will be surrounded by foreign tourists taking photos, and wanting to pose with him. I pity the locals within the parks. Many have settled there to live the outdoor life, only to be hampered by endless red tape, while the big ski and tour companies run rampant. We used to fly our Tri-Pacer into Banff, from Calgary on weekends. I miss that. But no limit on the motorhomes, large trucks, and thousands of tour buses belching smoke. It's absolute insanity that someone is being hounded for doing some slope soaring. The best solution would be to present Parks Canada with a proposal, and guidelines. If you do their work for them, it's far easier to get approval. Simple stuff, electric or glider only, no flying around built up areas, no use for filming/harassing wildlife, MAAC Insurance, etc. Providing highlighted Transport Canada Regs and definitions, as well as MAAC Safety Guidelines, will go a long way. The Rangers don't have any authority, other than that granted to them by the bosses at Parks Canada. Get their approval, and you're golden.
When I told people I was going to start an RC Club at CFB Shearwater, everyone told me it would never happen. I ignored them, did all my homework, wrote up all the regs, restrictions, etc, and submitted a 3 inch binder full of info to the Wing Commander. He checked out the table of contents, asked a couple of quick questions, and approved, as I'd obviously done my homework, and thoroughly planned ahead. If there's nothing left for them to do but sign, you'd be surprised how quickly they will, and shoo you out the door! I'd love to slope soar in Banff!

[footsy]

So just to make things clear, I was told by a warden that for now, it's ok to fly. They will likely have to pass a new law banning it but its possible that they could have a new directive which would attempt to go after people with the law that was intended to stop aircraft from taking off and landing at the airport. At the same time, for some reason, one warden (Anderson) in Banff hates model airplanes so don't ---- him off. He's known as being a hard ass for many things though. I'm pretty sure he is the one who shut camprounds down at times to make the park loose money and pressure them into giving the wardens hand guns.

I would discourage the use of combustion engines in the park too. I guess its easy for me to say because I don't have any but on the other hand, I would have at least one nitro if I didn't live in the park.



I also have to say that I was very disappointed with the lack of support from MAAC. It seems like they only support clubs. Clubs are great for many people but I enjoy being alone with my glider and I think that many other people don't require the social part of the hobby. I probably would join a club if there was one within 10km but there isn't one within 100km. At the same time, I fly 4-5 days a week year round but even if I was in a club, I'd probably only go once a week. Clubs don't make any sense when it comes to slope soaring which to me is the most exciting way to fly. I think I would crash more at a club because of the distractions too. I especially find that it's important to be attentive when you get an aircraft ready to fly. It's easy to forget a step while having a conversation. I dont mean to bash clubs. I would enjoy more contact with other fliers but I deal with so many people at work that it;s nice to be alone with the wind, my glider and the occasional sheep lying in the sun beside me.

One other note, I'm teaching an aerobatics pilot who lives here in Banff to fly RC. He has an apprentice but so far I've just been letting him fly my Radian pro and he's pretty tense when he does. So in return he has promised to take me up from Springbank and we will fly around the park and do some aerobatics. I'm pumped for that. You can fly aircraft in the park but the law they have been trying to apply to rc aircraft and kite skiers who do jumps is the law that was meant to stop pilots from using the airfield. It's a wildlife area. They do maintain it for emergency landings and even cut the grass.

The more I learn about park management, the more Banff seems like a zoo than a wild area. Wardens cu antlers off elk, traquilise and move them because mothers are afraid of elk attacking their kids. I was really angry when they shot some wolves that were harmless. One attacked a dog that was tied up but that's no cause for a death sentence. In India, an elephant has to kill 17 people before they kill it. The park is about making lots of money. The amount of construction and expansion in the last 10 years has been at a very heavy pace and they just tore down half a block to make another big hotel. about 4 million people come here each year most of them come to drive around and shop. There are plenty of skiers in the winter but it is a very small minority of people who climb, hike or fish. Banff must be by far the most developed national park in the world. I spent 3 months in a national park in Colombia that didn't even allow any cars in the park. Just horses and donkeys to bring in food and supplies. They also are going to open some paragliding sites. I think paragliding will be the next natural step for me. I love trying to figure out how the wind flows. It's almost magical because it's an invisible force.

Anyhow, I find people's perception of Banff can be far from the reality, especially the night life. EVERY night there are at least 3 cop cars around McDonalds and still lots of fights break out. Enormous amounts if cocaine and ecstasy are consumed here.
I don't see this stuff as so bad. After all, I make my living here and the millions and millions of dollars in revenue help fund all the parks that don't make money and its certain that the federal government makes a profit even after supporting the other parks. At the same time, from any point in town, you are no mare than a 10 minute walk from places where you can find yourself all alone in wilderness. That's why I really enjoy living here although I plan to move to Colombia within 10 years. I would be typing 10 times as much if I got into how much I love that country.

[retiredVTT]

quote.."I also have to say that I was very disappointed with the lack of support from MAAC. It seems like they only support clubs." ..end quote.


I've read the entire thread, and twice I've read discouraging comments regarding MAAC...but nobody has mentioned that to enjoy the 7.5 million dollar MAAC Insurance Policy we have as members, you must have the PERMISSION of the land-owner where you fly. The other possible concern is the source of power that we electric flyers use. In the case of a "rupture" they could start quite a bonfire!

Bill

[footsy]

Originally Posted by retiredVTT

I've read the entire thread, and twice I've read discouraging comments regarding MAAC...but nobody has mentioned that to enjoy the 7.5 million dollar MAAC Insurance Policy we have as members, you must have the PERMISSION of the land-owner where you fly. The other possible concern is the source of power that we electric flyers use. In the case of a "rupture" they could start quite a bonfire!

Bill

That's true but to buy it just for the insurance is not a great deal because the number a claims and the amount is very low. It makes more sense for a club because there are lots of people and cars around that could be damaged. If you fly in an uninhabited area, it's pretty unlikely that you will hurt anybody or anything. I pretty much just fly gliders on top of that and it would be hard to hurt someone if I tried with them.

I would worry that the insurance is limited to club fields or areas away from things that you might damage such as cars and people. For clubs, it's very understandable that insurance is mandatory because there is a real risk of injuring people in such crowded areas. Some of the big events look like injury is almost probable. So for that, MAAC is good. It just doesn't seem to have anything to offer the rest of us.

As for the fire part, it is very unlikely that one would start a fire. Has there ever been a case of that? Maybe but the odds are very small. Lipo fires are usually more of a fizzle than a fire. The hot fires from lipos and from overcharging. Having said that, if there is high fire risk, it is something one should be aware of. If you compare the odds of a glider with a 850mah battery starting a fire with the odds of a small trainer hurting someone at a club, it's pretty obvious that the difference would be measured by orders of magnitude.

I don't want to bash club flying. I'm sure its lots of fun. It's unfortunate that some people feel that their way of flying is the only proper way. We all love aviation and it would be nice if there was an organization which respected that. MAAC is fine for what it does but it would be nice if either they encompassed more than a small segment of RC enthusiasts or some other organization would form to promote and grow the hobby.
In a short time, trainers are going to make it easy for people to teach themselves how to fly as autopilot hardware is becoming better and cheaper. The hobby is growing in a way that MAAC will not support at this time.

[retiredVTT]

Originally Posted by footsy

That's true but to buy it just for the insurance is not a great deal because the number a claims and the amount is very low. It makes more sense for a club because there are lots of people and cars around that could be damaged. If you fly in an uninhabited area, it's pretty unlikely that you will hurt anybody or anything. I pretty much just fly gliders on top of that and it would be hard to hurt someone if I tried with them.

I would worry that the insurance is limited to club fields or areas away from things that you might damage such as cars and people. For clubs, it's very understandable that insurance is mandatory because there is a real risk of injuring people in such crowded areas. Some of the big events look like injury is almost probable. So for that, MAAC is good. It just doesn't seem to have anything to offer the rest of us.

As for the fire part, it is very unlikely that one would start a fire. Has there ever been a case of that? Maybe but the odds are very small. Lipo fires are usually more of a fizzle than a fire. The hot fires from lipos and from overcharging. Having said that, if there is high fire risk, it is something one should be aware of. If you compare the odds of a glider with a 850mah battery starting a fire with the odds of a small trainer hurting someone at a club, it's pretty obvious that the difference would be measured by orders of magnitude.

I don't want to bash club flying. I'm sure its lots of fun. It's unfortunate that some people feel that their way of flying is the only proper way. We all love aviation and it would be nice if there was an organization which respected that. MAAC is fine for what it does but it would be nice if either they encompassed more than a small segment of RC enthusiasts or some other organization would form to promote and grow the hobby.
In a short time, trainers are going to make it easy for people to teach themselves how to fly as autopilot hardware is becoming better and cheaper. The hobby is growing in a way that MAAC will not support at this time.

I presume you are not a MAAC member, and if that's the case I'm surprised you would even contact them but not surprised that they did not reply to you.


..good luck with your struggle,

Bill

[HOMEFLYR]

It was all over the cbc news earlier this year. There is no laws governing rc planes .Transport Canada is currently working to change that. The only thing stated for their use is to use common sense. These quadrocopters that people use in the cities has brought about concern about invasion of privacy etc. Also , one idiot flew close to a jet in the sky and he was reported. So now transport canada is looking at making some rules . This all came to light on the news about 6 months ago on the cbc network. I watched it . I fly close to an airport and i was told there was a 5 mile restriction . Well...bull ka ka . It's not true at all ...common sense is the only rule. That's all i know !