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07-06-2006, 12:16 PM | #1 |
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Bummed out about finding a field to fly at........
Well, I've been out to a few different fields in the past couple weeks looking for one I'd like to join the club at on this side of the border. Many of the ones I've went to are simply not conducive to the types of planes I fly, not the clubs fault at all, just a bummer.
However, on the weekend I did go to a field which appeared MAY have been suitable for the jets and such, but I walked away with a bitter taste in my mouth. Here is why. 1. Outside of one older gentleman, NOBODY would say boo to me. I said hello to quite a few and was met with primarily grunts and lack of interest. The older gentleman was pleasant and answered my questions, quite a nice fellow. What happened to the friendliness that used to follow this hobby. It used to be a stranger couldn't come to a field without being treated like royalty. 2. The cost of the dues is very high, double what I've paid anywhere else, now I don't mind paying high dues if the facility warrants it, this one, doesn't really....... 3. SAFETY STUPIDITY!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was the big one. I watched a modeller not only start, but run up to full power a model WITHIN FEET of other modellers sitting in lawn chairs. The model was elevated up on a table to the level of those sitting down's heads. The modellers sitting in the chairs nonchalantly looked over at the spinning prop directly in line with their heads and did nothing. Myself, I'd have jumped up running! Not only does common sense say this is a bad idea but it's against MAAC regulations. Then I watched a younger modeller who was a fairly proficient pilot, hand start a large scale extra/edge or something rather with NOTHING holding it down, no extra person holding on or anything. He did not have his transmitter with him. When he started the airplane the high idle due to choke on the gas engine allowed the plane to jump towards him a good couple feet. Thankfully he was standing when he started it or that big prop would have had him singing soprano! The airplane was still creeping forward while he walked over to his transmitter. I did not see a single pilot flying with a spotter but often there was 3 or 4 planes in the air at once. The safety issues alone were enough to make me NOT want to be part of this club. I will continue looking, I will be joining the bellingham club, but would really like to have a local field too. There are a couple of prospects that may come up, but nothing as of yet. Anyway, I suggest heavily that EVERY club take a CLOSE look at what their members are doing safety wise. I refuse to fly at a field where such a laxadaisical attitude towards safety is held. I'm not a safety freak, but I don't want to have to think about that 30% gasser coming towards me while I'm flying, or a prop spinning off and coming towards my head while I sit in my chair relaxing! |
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07-06-2006, 12:40 PM | #2 |
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I am: Ronm
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Hey Jeremy, which fields did you check?
I'm flying at the Mission wings field, not a bad field, good safety procedures and equipment, but I find the mountain on the left end of the runway intimidating. And don't bother washing your car if you're planning on going flying, it's a long and dusty driveway! Good bunch of fellows there, and the dues arn't too bad, but still almost double what I paid in Ontario.
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07-06-2006, 12:44 PM | #3 |
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I am: Jim McIntyre
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I hope you voiced your concerns (in a respectful way) to the club exec?
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07-06-2006, 02:19 PM | #4 |
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I have yet to find out who the club exec is, but I am doing a little searching.
I haven't checked the mission wings club out personally yet since I talked to Rowdy and he mentioned the mountain off the to the left, makes it tough to fly the fast stuff, but I do need to still get out there and check it out |
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07-06-2006, 08:23 PM | #6 |
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I am: Terry L
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Location: Keremeos BC
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Safety
Could be a lot of clubs in the area, but not all are so ignorant. Lots of old established clubs carry the "Old Boy's Club" attitude, and it makes beginning into this sport difficult, and even moving from one area to another can be hard. I have found out the latter the hard way more than a couple of times, once in the Fraser Valley, once in Edmonton, again in Osoyoos. Man, I was chuffed with a couple of these clowns, proudly wearing their MAAC Instructor badges etc, while telling you that your model(s) are too small/slow/insignificant/worthless/etc for them to waste their time. Worst reaction usually has to do with showing up with a sailplane: "Get that out of here! It takes up too much frequency time!" I checked the board, and no one on the field was on that frequency...
We need more new clubs whose mandate is to help, rather than hinder, the development of the hobby. Having dealt with a club who REALLY needed to lose their charter, I know how little MAAC is likely to do for changing the image and operations of established clubs, so it is up to others to develop clubs who more closely follow the original mandate of MAAC. Flame suit on... :P |
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07-06-2006, 08:55 PM | #7 | |
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Re: Safety
Quote:
Same thing all over, a bunch of old, grumpy, circle flying, dangerous buggers trying to run the club their way without ever lifting a finger. I am one of the very few who always make a point to talking to strangers at the field and new guys.
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07-07-2006, 12:30 AM | #8 |
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I can understand why Jer's not naming the club since a lot of people are sure to make a big deal over his comments and there's really not much to gain from it.
On the topic of jets at fields in the lower mainland, the only 2 strips that really come to mind are RCFCBC (Fry's corner, 176 and Fraser Hwy) and Ridge Flyers in delta (for slower stuff) I've flown my Yellow Stingray at Fry's twice as a guest and would consider it again. You gotta be on top of it though, since the highway's RIGHT there on the down wind leg... There's also a couple other members there with turbines (including 2 1st time jet guys who are instructors) that occasionally show up and the pilots are normally pretty receptive to them. Their club fees are rather high though and I heard a rumour they're going up further. That and the initiation fee are the only reason I haven't joined... Kelly
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07-07-2006, 09:27 AM | #9 | |
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I am: Ronm
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Quote:
All the fees out here on the west coast seem quite a bit higher than back in Ontario. As I mentioned, the Mission field is "ok", but it's not even close to as good as the field I flew at back east, and the fees are almost double. I know that the Mission club is a bit smaller, and the farmer that owns the land is paid more than twice as much for the use of the field. If the Mission runway was rotated about 45 to 90deg clockwise, it would be excellent, as the left end runway has a mountain, and the wind is normally 90deg to the runway as it is now. An obstacle that makes it difficult to achieve this is a creek that runs parallel to the runway, so the whole field would have to be moved back. Anyway, I'm new there, and I probably wouldn't even suggest these changes. The guys have been flying with the field like this for many years, so I would anticipate a strong resistance to making that big a change, and it would probably just alienate me from the other members to even bring it up. On the other hand, if they did make the changes, I would bet they would have a membership increase of probably 25 to 50% within a short time. They may not want that. I think I'll just fly there for this year and check out my options for next year. It's not like I've been doing a lot of flying anyways lately!
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07-07-2006, 11:04 AM | #10 |
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RCFCBC is a very nice field IMO. However at the pattern contest some club members come out to fly in the evenings when its over.....they did not instill a great feeling of safe flying IMO
I have not flown at too many out there, but Aldergrove is tight as well, Chilliwack is nice if you dont mind the tree right at 150 meters out in front Just learn the slip Great move to make tight approaches We are blessed here though, plenty of flat spaces to have massive runways |
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