Is it safe to fly when it is raining?

[J D 8]

1 hour ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said:

It's a fun thing flying rc stuff, but I can't see the point in doing it in the rain .

 

If you live in Wales you can' let a bit of mist/drizzle put you off or flying time is halved.😁

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

43 minutes ago, J D 8 said:

 

If you live in Wales you can' let a bit of mist/drizzle put you off or flying time is halved.😁

Move, who would want to live in Wales other than singers,,😅,

[Colin Carpenter]

I used to race IC Multi Racers back in the day. Specialised in 1 hour races. Redshift 60 and massive tank. No stopping. Made a tx cover from a transparent soap bag for tx with seals  ! Worked a treat , never a wet tx. Can’t say same for me ! Soaked through all layers many times. Clay quarry in Dorset was worst. Clay everywhere! 😱😱😱😂😂😂😂😂Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be ! Colin

[paul devereux]

6 hours ago, Jon - Laser Engines said:

 

Absolutely not. There have been many more serious accidents and, as the others have pointed out, this is the root cause of the backlash against many of your posts. 

 

The things you say betray a fundamental lack of experience and lack of knowledge, which is totally fair for someone new to the hobby. The problem is you often comment and post opinions on subjects that you simply do not have the experience to comment on and then refuse to accept the responses from more experienced contributors. 

 

To say that leccy's topic appropriate accident example is the worst accident we can find is ludicrous and demonstrates an ignorance to incidents over the history of the hobby. Very recently a flyer in Spain was killed and a detailed thread is here on the forum. A very quick google search revealed this page with details of a number of incidents https://www.dangerousdrone.ca/Death_by_RC_Aircraft.html

 

You are clearly very enthusiastic, which is great, but there are many aspects of the hobby where you need to pay more attention and take things more seriously. 

This, Jon, is the sort of constructive post that I could have done with from the start. @Ron Gray posting two quotes of mine, implying I was being, against my previous remark, suddenly inquisitive for wanting a link to or details of "the biggest payout the BMFA ever made" over "a light weight model" is the kind of asinine nonsense that helps no one. If it really was the biggest pay out ever made, why shouldn't I have a link to it? It would be a learning experience. (As it turned out it wasn't, as the picture was of a toy glider of the sort you can buy from a corner shop for about a £1. The alleged incident probably never happened anyway. If it did, and anyone can point me to it, I would be very grateful).

To my mind, the point of these types of forum is to be helpful, not mock. And I will say most people, including yourself, have been very helpful. Just because I have been flying for one year not fifty does not mean I am stupid.

Edited June 29, 2023 by paul devereux

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

Lighten the mood folks, time we left the barbs out of the discussion.

[J D 8]

4 hours ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said:

Move, who would want to live in Wales other than singers,,😅,

Have a look at my views. The models are optional. 

[PatMc]

5 hours ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said:

Move, who would want to live in Wales other than singers,,😅,

You mean Wailers. 😁

[Phil Green]

1 hour ago, PatMc said:

You mean Wailers. 😁

If they were good enough for Bob, ...

[Martin Dance 1]

 

There seems to be two threads in progress here. One about flying in the rain the other about insurance claims. I can accept that oif you are flying in a competition and it starts to rain whilst competitors are flying you may have to complete the flight. I suspect that flying would be suspended until the rain stopped otherwise those flying in the rain are put at a disadvantage. Flying purely for recreation however why would you want to get wet? I made this remark earlier. flying is supposed to be fun not an exercise in masochism!

 

The issue about size and safey. Andy Symons and others often cited the insurance claim linked to a chuck glider as an example of the size/weight of a model bears no relationship to the potential harm it can cause. I am surprised by the accident in Spain that caused the death of a model flyer. I certainly cannot cross a runway, model or fullsize, without carefully looking both ways. In the same way I cannot cross a road without looking both ways. Maybe that's unusual and I have a heightened sense of self preservation!

 

[paul devereux]

3 hours ago, Martin Dance 1 said:

 

There seems to be two threads in progress here. One about flying in the rain the other about insurance claims. I can accept that oif you are flying in a competition and it starts to rain whilst competitors are flying you may have to complete the flight. I suspect that flying would be suspended until the rain stopped otherwise those flying in the rain are put at a disadvantage. Flying purely for recreation however why would you want to get wet? I made this remark earlier. flying is supposed to be fun not an exercise in masochism!

 

The issue about size and safey. Andy Symons and others often cited the insurance claim linked to a chuck glider as an example of the size/weight of a model bears no relationship to the potential harm it can cause. I am surprised by the accident in Spain that caused the death of a model flyer. I certainly cannot cross a runway, model or fullsize, without carefully looking both ways. In the same way I cannot cross a road without looking both ways. Maybe that's unusual and I have a heightened sense of self preservation!

 

Thank you,Martin, for posting a response that is pertinent and helpful  (unlike the likes of @Jon - Laser Engines  with his remark:"People in glass houses" in relation to me asking if the person in that example was considered a competent flyer or not. Of course it is a reasonable question in relation to accidents.) I just wondered if most people continued with a flight if it started to rain when it was showery or terminated it straight away. 

I think people should accept beginners will have what they may consider to be 'daft' questions and be curious about the hobby. If people have an opinion they can give it or not, or just ignore the thread. They don't have to mock the person asking it.

Do you have a link or any details on the incident with the chuck glider so I can look it up? I always think accidents have a learning potential: in my field of work,before undertaking a task we would always: Risk assess, identifying any potential hazards incl. check for any relevant history; Assess the risk,incl. identifying mitigating factors; Complete the task and review.

 

[Philip Lewis 3]

4 hours ago, Martin Dance 1 said:

 

I can accept that if you are flying in a competition and it starts to rain whilst competitors are flying you may have to complete the flight.

 

Certainly in F3A competitions the rule is if you are flying and it starts raining it is up to the pilot whether or not he wants to abort the flight, you are not obliged to continue.  

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

1 hour ago, paul devereux said:

 

Do you have a link or any details on the incident with the chuck glider so I can look it up? I always think accidents have a learning potential: in my field of work,before undertaking a task we would always: Risk assess, identifying any potential hazards incl. check for any relevant history; Assess the risk,incl. identifying mitigating factors; Complete the task and review.

 

Paul, I think you should accept advice posted earlier that this incident occurred many years ago and was not published on the internet - it probably pre-dated the World Wide Web!

 

My reading of the posts suggest that the example was quoted solely to illustrate that in extraordinary circumstances even a very lightweight model can cause significant injury and its difficult to imagine what you’ll be able to take from the unfortunate incident in relation to flying radio controlled models in the open air but if you’re truly interested I can only suggest contacting Andy Symons at the BMFA who may be able to give you more details. 

[Frank Skilbeck]

I burnt an airbrake servo out on a glider because the metal pins in the hinge had gone rusty and seized up the hinge. Probably from it getting wet when it rained and I wasn't able ro get it under cover.

[Rich Griff]

Oh I am tempted.....😁

 

Lovely views of Pembrokeshire, dale is a wonderfully place even in February...

 

As to flying in the rain, if it starts to rain which it does quite often here, I land and take cover. We usually can tell here when ( not if ) it's going to rain and adjust our lives accordingly.

 

You don't need a good voice to live in Wales, we will teach you, but some brains helps 😀.

 

Safe flying is no accident !

 

Even a paper aeroplane ( dart ) could blind you.

 

I read somewhere that hot glue can be compromised in hot weather....hot glue, hot weather, a clue perhaps ??

 

Non waterproof glue.........?

 

Paul, just keep practising your RC flying but make sure you are all legal. Always fly up wind and practise a particular " manouver " to increase your repetuare, to become A or B standard ready. Flying with a purpose......

 

If it starts to rain/get wet, land asap safely. Another day will arrive with better conditions but check all your gear for defects like.....

.

To "not check" is not good practise. 

 

Prevention.......a stitch in time.......

 

 

Ignorance is no defence believe me, which is maybe why you ask your questions. If you don't know, you don't know, but you can fnd out....learn......read......even by asking on a forum, maybe ?

 

Horses can be "freaked out" even by a polystyrene cup rolling around on the road by the breeze........

 

In the old days the question was which book to pick from the shelf. These days it's Google, forums or people you mingle with and respect. A club ?

 

Radio waves are absorbed ( attenuated ) by foam piramids apparently, who would have thunk.

 

Stay safe out there...enjoy.

Edited June 30, 2023 by Rich Griff

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

2 hours ago, Frank Skilbeck said:

I burnt an airbrake servo out on a glider because the metal pins in the hinge had gone rusty and seized up the hinge. Probably from it getting wet when it rained and I wasn't able ro get it under cover.

If you lived in Wales, it would rust in the shed, now let's write a song about it,😃

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

Some of the teasing is getting a little close to the mark - please remember that we’re “the friendly forum”. 

[Ron Gray]

I think the thread has dried up.

[Andy J]

The rain has stopped here so is it safe to go flying now? Thought I had better ask for some advice as seldom seem to get any stick time these days.

Edited June 30, 2023 by Andy J

[Andy Gates]

To answer the OP's question:-

 

Yes it is safe so long as a couple of factors are covered.

 

Keep your Tx dry - I use a transmitter mitt for this.

 

Keep your plane well within sight - big peaked hats help if you wear glasses as does flying down wind rather than up wind so the rain is not in your face.

 

If you have a balsa plane - make sure the glue used is waterproof.

 

Finally, once home dry everything out thoroughly preferably in a warm dry place - airing cupboards or spare rooms are great for this - cold sheds or garages not so good..

 

[J D 8]

2 hours ago, Paul De Tourtoulon said:

If you lived in Wales, it would rust in the shed, now let's write a song about it,😃

Too true about the rust on the coast here. Keeping it at bay on the farm machinery ect is a full time job and why all my models are stored in the house.

[paul devereux]

5 hours ago, Martin Harris - Moderator said:

Paul, I think you should accept advice posted earlier that this incident occurred many years ago and was not published on the internet - it probably pre-dated the World Wide Web!

 

My reading of the posts suggest that the example was quoted solely to illustrate that in extraordinary circumstances even a very lightweight model can cause significant injury and its difficult to imagine what you’ll be able to take from the unfortunate incident in relation to flying radio controlled models in the open air but if you’re truly interested I can only suggest contacting Andy Symons at the BMFA who may be able to give you more details. 

Thanks. The story smells like urban legend to me (who on earth would insure a chuck glider with the BMFA, let alone cause "the biggest payout the BMFA ever made" with it?). I'll email Andy- if it's true, it'll be the scoop of the century in the aeromodelling world! I'll post the results here and on another forum I'm on.

[Dickw]

Paul

Just for clarity, it is the BMFA member that is insured not the model. I have in the past flown chuck gliders (including in organised competitions) and was therefore covered by the insurance as a member.

 

Dick

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

As I’ve heard it directly quoted by a BMFA official on at least one occasion and was not challenged by the BMFA underwriter present at the event, I suspect there’s more than a grain of truth in the tale. 
 

What I can state for certain is that the BMFA insurance covers third party liability resulting from any legal model flying activity so yes, it would cover a claim from an accident involving a chuck glider. 

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

Personal remark removed. 

[Ron Gray]

2 hours ago, paul devereux said:

I'll post the results here

Please don't, this thread has strayed too far from the topic already! Maybe start another thread 'Urban myths and model flying folklore'?