Any opticians out there?

[David Davis]

I'm finding it difficult to judge distances when landing. I always think that the model is a lot closer than it really is. I've landed in the adjacent field on finals when I thought that I'd crossed the threshold. I've done this twice with the Big Guff which is the slowest flying model which I own but I've also done the same thing with the club's Boomerang trainer. The Big Guff is an eight foot wingspan (2.4 metre) vintage model so not difficult to see.

 

I am seventy-six years old and only wear glasses for reading.

 

Any advice will be welcomed.

 

 

[Brian Cooper]

Look for some landmarks downwind to line up with the runway. 

[David Davis]

Just now, Brian Cooper said:

Look for some landmarks downwind to line up with the runway. 

 

I can do that, the dead tree in the background lines up with the middle of the runway, my problem is trying to judge where the runway starts.

 

 

[Brian Cooper]

Ignore the far end of the runway. .   Aim to touch down in the area in front of your feet. 

[John Wagg]

Do you do a "circuit" before you land ?

 

[J D 8 - Moderator]

   On a day when the sun is overhead the models shadow will be on the strip.

[Kim Taylor]

I had a similar problem a few years ago which transpired to be my unconsciously closing one eye. 

In my case this was caused by surgery to remove a carcinoma in my temple, which left me with a 'droopy' eyelid.

Since corrected with cosmetic surgery, but I have to consciously open my left eye to maintain depth perception. 

Maybe if you've got a bit of an imbalance in your eyes, something similar is happening. 

Kim 

[David Davis]

54 minutes ago, John Wagg said:

Do you do a "circuit" before you land ?

 

Yes.

[Geoff S]

There was an article in one of the magazines a good few years ago about landing.  It suggested that to get the model to touch down opposite from you that you choose something (a tree, a hill, or even a building) that you need to overfly on approach and keep the model the same height over it until you're almost at the point where you flare. That way you avoid landing in (say) a hedge on the edge of your field.  When you're flying at a constant height objects in the distance are apparently cleared by increasing altitude.  I've tried it, and it works.  At Ashbourne we have a berm at the end of the runway which we need to clear in a southerly wind and it's very easy to hit it (ask Tim Hooper who managed some years ago at our scale day).  When I'm landing from that direction I keep the model an apparent constant height over the berm and all is well (if the apparent height is getting lower - watch out)

[Engine Doctor]

Dave .Go to an optician and get checked out . If you have depth perception difficulties you may now need glasses to drive safely as well as land a model.

[Cuban8]

I'd strongly advise a visit to the opticians in the first instance. Tell them about the problem as they can run various tests to check the operation of your eyes and not just glasses prescriptions. In all likelihood they'll find no problem but it's worth getting it looked at and if there is some doubt, they'll refer you to an Opthalmologist.

Don't ignore any sort of visual disturbance

[John Muir]

I was a dispensing optician. It's unlikely to be an optical problem if you can still see the model clearly enough at a distance. Binocular vision only contributes to depth perception out to a distance of a few feet. Beyond that your brain uses perceived size and relative motion to judge distance. You mention the problem is with your Big Guff mainly, so the clue might be in the name. It's big. So your brain is probably telling you it is closer than it really is. You'll probably just have to consciously remind yourself that it needs to look a lot bigger before it's time to land. I'd also go with the advice given above and try to land more or less in front of yourself instead of way down the runway. Looking at something coming straight towards you makes it difficult to judge its speed and with a slow flying plane in particular, it would be easy to stall it. It's never a bad idea to get your eyes tested though. At your age it wouldn't be surprising if you needed distance glasses, even if you've never needed them before, and there could be other changes, like early signs of cataracts or the like. All sorts of health issues can be spotted by an optometrist.

[MattyB]

2 hours ago, David Davis said:

I'm finding it difficult to judge distances when landing. I always think that the model is a lot closer than it really is. I've landed in the adjacent field on finals when I thought that I'd crossed the threshold. I've done this twice with the Big Guff which is the slowest flying model which I own but I've also done the same thing with the club's Boomerang trainer. The Big Guff is an eight foot wingspan (2.4 metre) vintage model so not difficult to see.

 

I am seventy-six years old and only wear glasses for reading.

 

Any advice will be welcomed.

 

 

You really don't need advice from us here;  just go to your optician and get an eye test!

[Paul De Tourtoulon]

3 hours ago, J D 8 - Moderator said:

   On a day when the sun is overhead the models shadow will be on the strip.

Lol, in England,,,🤢, although the shadow did  help me maiden a D 520 last week, I don't think glasses would help but maybe do more flying, I got new glasses last month, the last pair over 5 years ago and my 'best' flying pair with pilot's fixed tint didn't help, around 25 years old. it's probably age,

[john davidson 1]

fly the model straight towards you then just short of the strip  align it on the strip

[Don Fry]

I have experienced both countries opticians. My background is shooting (target, small bore and full bore) to national standard, and this game. Shooting teaches careful looking at stuff, no twitching. 
In the UK, you get “you have very good vision, for your age, Mr Fry”. My comments, wrapped up nicely, “try harder brother, I’m better than you assume” cause them stress. But I’m right.

in France they all seem to regard it as a badge of honour to push boundaries, as mine said last time, “you need good eyesight for than”, asked why his reply “ you die without hobbies” sobered me. 
Get yer eyes done David. 

[Bruce Collinson]

Nobody has referred to the C word.   Cataracts (sorry Don, don’t know the French word.).   Hopefully, en France, they intervene a lot quicker than our sanctified NHS does.   I don’t know the word for optometrist either but I’d start there.

 

in my recent experience, a year ago, two new lenses made vision when flying a lot easier and NB Don, has had no discernible effect on my shotgunning vision.   Plus I don’t need readers except for very close up, and can now see the car instruments without glasses.

[leccyflyer]

6 hours ago, David Davis said:

 

I can do that, the dead tree in the background lines up with the middle of the runway, my problem is trying to judge where the runway starts.

 

 

My word -it's that long it looks like it might start in Belgium 😮

[Engine Doctor]

2 hours ago, john davidson 1 said:

fly the model straight towards you then just short of the strip  align it on the strip

Then duck 😉

[leccyflyer]

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

Do you stand that close to the runway when flying?  Even a few feet back will give you a better perspective helping judge distance more easily. 

[Don Fry]

35 minutes ago, Bruce Collinson said:

Nobody has referred to the C word.   Cataracts (sorry Don, don’t know the French word.).   Hopefully, en France, they intervene a lot quicker than our sanctified NHS does.   I don’t know the word for optometrist either but I’d start there.

 

in my recent experience, a year ago, two new lenses made vision when flying a lot easier and NB Don, has had no discernible effect on my shotgunning vision.   Plus I don’t need readers except for very close up, and can now see the car instruments without glasses.

Cataractes. French is just badly spelled English. Got both done in the last two years, both present as increasing short sight., and yellowing of colours. Still got way north of 20/20. We had detailed conversations on where I needed to have focal points in each eye. Downsides, I leave glasses in random places, and have to remember that glasses and driving go together. Upside, same glasses, with photocromatic lens, do for driving, and flying in any light conditions.

[Don Fry]

I think a question to answer David, is;

I have alway found this a problem,

I have found this is getting worse with time.

[i12fly]

I used to fly with two eyes, now I have to fly with one. As a post above states, binocular vision is only effective over a short distance -I reckon less than 10 feet. So, distance is judged by perspective, size and movement. It is necessary to stand in a position that is at an angle to the direction of the landing approach, so stand at the side of the runway and aim to touch down fairly near to where you are standing, at an angle of about 30 to 60 degrees to you on the approach. if you land directly across from you -again distance is difficult to judge. Ask me how I know 🙄     

[Engine Doctor]

9 hours ago, i12fly said:

I used to fly with two eyes, now I have to fly with one. As a post above states, binocular vision is only effective over a short distance -I reckon less than 10 feet. So, distance is judged by perspective, size and movement. It is necessary to stand in a position that is at an angle to the direction of the landing approach, so stand at the side of the runway and aim to touch down fairly near to where you are standing, at an angle of about 30 to 60 degrees to you on the approach. if you land directly across from you -again distance is difficult to judge. Ask me how I know 🙄     

This problem can often arrise when a flyer changes from a club size model , say 50 inch span to a bigger 7 or 8 ft model. Always remember a big model will look like a smaller one but is often twice the distance from you. Fly a big model and keep it at a distance where it still looks big .

An experienced flyer of club sized models at our club had a go on a 8ft model , a T240. This was the first bigger model he had flown. When landing he lined it up with our patch at a extreme  distance and lowered the throttle. When I asked him what he was doing he replied " landing of course" I advised him he was halfway over the next field, then the engine still on idle cut ! He managed to get it back in our field....just skimming over ther fence. His first words were " I thought it was closer than that" . Its easy to get caught out.