Conflicted

[Gabe]

So I've been off the last 4 days and been flying my fleet on the street in front of my house. The neighbors all get a kick out if it - or so I thought.
Today as I was packing up a guy from down the street asked.begged me not to fly them anymore. It wasn't the noise, it was the fear of them losing the radio signal. He watched his dad crash one ten years ago due to radio loss. I explained to him about 2.4ghz and how everything was just foam - but he didn't seem to care. He wanted me to drive 20 to 30 min to "open space areas". I politely told him I didn't want to be "that guy" BUT I wasn't going to go driving to play with my toys.

We left on good terms and I told him I'd try to come up with a solution. I'm thinking mini Stryker at home and I'll drive 5 min to the park for the rest.

Any thoughts?

[akphill]

Gabe that is a really hard call
If you want to keep peace in the neighborhood you know what to do but if you are like me Hmmm well better not say
Good luck on your dicision

[Gabe]

Tell me about it. No one in my immediate area seems to mind. It's just one guy spreading bad vibes.

[Gabe]

Nothing in the muni-code for my city about radio controlled aircraft in public streets. Not allowed in parks though!

[19000rpm]

Yes, that's a tough one.

I've lost control of too many planes either from signal interruption, brownouts or mechanical failure to fly with people anywhere except behind me. I can't control that in my neighborhood. And then I also have the issue of potential property damage in the neighborhood.

So, I only fly the micros around in my neighborhood because they don't present the potential dangers larger aircraft do.

It's a bummer that you can't fly in the parks, but the risk is always there because you can't control the crowds and where they go or what they do. A responsible pilot can usually work around that, but the code is there, in part, because pilots aren't always responsible and, in any event, if an accident occurred, the muni would be, at least partially, liable.

Also, most park bans against r/c were based on the gassers and the old FM radios. Noise and unreliable control issues. Some cities have amended those codes in specific parks to allow for electric aircraft. You might find some local electric pilots, band together, and see if you can get the muni to amend the codes to allow electrics in designated areas.

One city just north of me not only amended the code, but actually built a paved flying field for electrics. Change can happen if you have reasonable people in govt. to deal with.

[Doozer]

I've seen a kid get his fingers chopped off from a lawn mower, should they ban lawnmowers? Kids ride their bikes up and down the street scratching and denting cars along the way... should they ban kids on bikes in the street? Next time he breaks out his weed-eater, tell him you know a guy that got his eye put out by one and you'd rather he not use it. Guess what he'll say? If this guy came up straight away asking you to fly elsewhere, you could have told him your birds were made of chocolate cake and it wouldn't have mattered. I've seen this before. What's next? What if he doesn't like the color of your house? Some people are just unhappy and paranoid man.

If there are rules/ordinances stating you can't fly in a residential area then he's probably done some research and the next time you fly you'll get a visit from the Federales. I'd say make sure you're in the right before you fly again. If you are, and you know you're being safe, fly whatever you want wherever you want. There are far worse things in the neighborhood than a little foamy airplane.

[Gabe]

Those are both excellent sides to consider. On one hand I see his concern about brownouts like 19k said and on the other I see loss of freedoms like Doozer said.

He asked me specifically if I land them on the street. When I sai yes he immediately asked about cars and traffic and I told him if there's cars coming I just make another go-round. Honestly though, the first thing I thought of we're the kids that ride their bikes around here, just like Doozer said.

I spent an hour last night reading the municipal code and there are no laws preventing me from flying on the street.

This is a good discussion guys. I'd like to hear more input.

[Raygun]

I do code enforcement where I live we have nothing in the codes about flying model aircraft in the streets or parks. I would hate to see someone hurt and spoil it for everyone but that has never occured here. We do have a flying field for RC's and there has been some close calls but as Gabe pointed out almost all of those where on the 72mhz radios. The radios have come up some and the chance is far less. If there are people out you just don't fly thats what I do but to make everone happy is just impossible and some people have far to much time on there hands to complain.. Ray

[Dave]

I say fly and if the guy says something else just turn Ray loose on him

[Dave]

better yet offer him some of Doozers cake

[Doozer]

I guess I don't see the rationale for someone getting upset about a foamy airplane. I would guess that far more people are hurt on the street riding bikes, skateboards, quads, mini bikes, yard equipment, ...etc etc.

We tend to get a little excited when it comes to our hobby. We don't want to lose it because someone screws it up for all of us, so we tend to be a little hyper-vigilant. I couldn't fly in my street. I'd be way to sketched out, but if you think about it, what Gabe doing is far less dangerous than cranking up the two stroke leaf blower... which is an everyday thing around my neighborhood.

[Gabe]

I agree Doozer. Its almost the principle of the whole thing that bugs me. But I have lost 2 planes due to electrical issues in the last 2 years in my apartment complex in Tampa. So now I'm a little hesitant when I think about it.

It's gonna be a judgement call for me. I literally had a dad with two little girls come out and watch right before the neighbor asked me to stop. He and his little girls were so excited to watch.

[Raygun]

Doozer has a point I read an article one time that stated a lawn mower can propel an object out 3 times faster than a 357 magnum a foamy might give you a rug burn

[Doozer]

Oct 25, 2011 12:06:15 GMT -6 Raygun said:

.... I read an article one time that stated a lawn mower can propel an object out 3 times faster than a 357 magnum a foamy might give you a rug burn

Exactly this! He just needs a little perspective.

[Gabe]

Yup. So true!