On Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 6:00:41 PM UTC-7, son_of_flubber wrote:
On Sunday, May 10, 2015 at 5:02:36 PM UTC-4, Bill D wrote:
Model builders/flyers have seen a LOT of them crash and they unconsciously assume that's how full-size glider work.

A fundamental excitement for model flyers is that they might crash their model. When that happens, they get to buy or build another one.

A fundamental excitement of soaring is that I might crash. I'm putting my life on the line.


This is absolutely not true at all and this attitude shows a great deal of disrespect for the dangers involved with many RC models. Maybe for those RC pilots that are flying $99 Horizon Hobby foamy planes, or a .30 size glow trainer airplane - but let's see you pilot a 700 size RC helicopter and not get weak knees and a huge lump in your throat just thinking about the possibility of death.

The RC Heli world has had a really tough couple of years with at least 5 deaths that I know of directly related to injuries sustained from their helicopter. One of those deaths was a friend of mine - and a sponsored/professional pilot in Brooklyn, NY.

Not a fan of helicopters, ok, then how about standing on cliff bringing a dynamic soaring glider to speeds over 450mph - what do you think would happen if this sailplane (with over a 6 ft wingspan) happened to lose control and head straight for the RC pilot? Hint - it's not simply gonna bounce off.

These pilots do think about death. They are pushing the limits of this sport. But even if you are not pushing the limit of life and limb there is still a major pucker factor even if you are flying say a relatively safe RC jet- there are pilots out there flying $10,000 even $20,000 RC jets. Do you really think these guys want to crash these planes just so they can build the next one? Serious?

I dare you to stand next to either one of the pilots as their spotter without pooping in your pants from overwhelming fear... I have - and can tell you without a doubt it was way more frightening than my first time soloing a glider:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17lmeOfpxVU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfoxjNg-eg0