Strange but great news!

[frank mccune]

        While flying UC at the local model airplane club yesterday, an official of the club approached my mate and I and asked if we would like to have a paved area on which to fly UC.  We discussed it for a bit and considered the shape, size and building material to be used.  My friend is afraid of flying over pavement due to the massive damage that may happen due to a crash.  At present, we are flying over grass the excludes any but the largest size of airplanes. I suggested a doughnut shape of pavement with a paved spot in the middle for the pilots.  Perhaps a compromise.  We were informed that money is no object as the club is well endowed. The RC site is leased yearly from a very cooperative farmer.

         I later learned that this club that had a large membership in the past has dwindled in size.  We were told that a few RC fliers has given up on RC and were contemplating flying UC to meet their flying needs. Perhaps this club is wishing in adding numbers to their club roster. 

       Our club has no field of their club but pay insurance on three park areas where we fly. Our club has perhaps  active members and I can see that it may be disbanded any day. If We join another club, would we still have to pay for AMA insurance to fly there or would their AMA insurance also cover us?

        Kindly post suggestions concerning this mater.

                                                                                                                         Tia,

                                                                                                                          Frank McCune

[Gerald Arana]

Holy Mackerel Andy!
They are willing to give you a paved circle?! And you didn't jump at it? I'd be joining their club that day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take the deal, Jerry

PS: Yes, I know your name is Frank.....

[Randy Powell]

I'm with Gerald. Take the deal.

[Mike Haverly]

Seems to me that if you join their club you would be covered under their insurance.  If you don't belong to the AMA then that's another issue.  What's the problem?  Join and learn to fly over a hard surface.  If some of the other RC'ers want to move to control line, (U/C sounds hokey), chances are they will want to have a grass circle as well.  Sounds like a sweet deal to me.

[Howard Rush]

Grass circles take more maintenance than you think.

[BYU]

Grass circles take more maintenance than you think.

Like you would know

[Randy Powell]

Believe me, Howard knows.

[L0U CRANE]

And you could point out to your friend that a paved surface is much kinder to models than most grass circles. Except, of course, in the case of a crash. Snagging in grass on takeoff can be a problem. Landings, too, can be much smoother and gentler - the models have no tendency to snag and flip  flip over pretty violently. If he is past the level of fear of frequent crashes, he should welcome these advantages.

Best of luck on this! Go for it...

[John Lindberg]

Grass circles take more maintenance than you think.

Yes, like mowing (weeds)! 

[john e. holliday]

Yes you should take the club up on a paved circle.  We used to have a paved donut with center pad for pilots that was no problem.  Yes we mowed the grass in side the donut which was not as bad as mowing a full grass circle.  Even a center pad for pilots makes a lot of difference in flying.  Maybe the club has enough room for a paved circle and grass.  Also do join the club and start teaching the guys about control line.  The re is more than just stunt.

[peabody]

Hey Frank
Reach out to Eric Viglione....He designed the 1/4 circle that the MCRC installed....1/4 circle is plenty for all types of CL excepting Scale...

You'll be surprised how quickly costs go up.

Good news!

Have fun!

[bill bischoff]

...1/4 circle is plenty for all types of CL excepting Scale...



Racers will disagree!

[John Leidle]

  I'd jump on that opportunity like the Lone Ranger on Silver.
           John L.

[Ken Culbertson]

Take the paved circle.  You will actually do less damage to your pets and probably crash less as well.  Hint - you can fly after it rains and the IC guys don't kill the take off area (but they do leave nice puddles)!  Electrics can ramp up slowly and you don't have to mow it - EVER!

It will also attract the racing folks and you can paint nice round circles so that the birds have a target.  I can't think of any reason I would fly on grass if there was a paved circle near by.  Except maybe combat.

.... 1/4 circle is plenty for all types of CL ....   Worst of both worlds.  Want to take off with grass wheels on concrete or land with concrete wheels on grass - and you still have to cut the grass.

Ken

[Andre Ming]

I can't think of any reason I would fly on grass if there was a paved circle near by.  Except maybe combat.

I have the same "never" sentiment too, only reversed: I don't fly over pavement. (Admittedly, all of my C/L activity over the past 30+ years was nostalgia combat oriented.)

By flying over grass, WHEN it (a crash) happens, at least I don't trash my engine. Of course, it would foolish indeed to fly a combat plane over pavement. Did it once when I was a kid... airplane and engine paid the price. (Scratched up from the belly in landing.) I learned my lesson, and I never did it again.

Anyway... this thread sounds like a good opportunity for those involved.

Andre

[EricV]

Hey Rich, thanks for the vote of confidence, but lets not go selling swamp land to the fella! If I had my druthers, I'd have paved the whole thing!

Frank says his club is well heeled and wants to give him a full paved circle. Are you kidding me? What are you waiting for Frank?! Hurry up and say YES before they change their mind!

The paved T/O strip I came up with for our field was the best cost-effective compromise for our budget, not the "ultimate solution". Our un-paved inner donut and unpaved donut area has been at the mercy of feral Hog's tusks digging giant craters, land settling (we are on a land fill), adding more fill dirt, and other fun stuff plus it has to be mowed, seeded, weeded, your lines are wet with morning dew (as well as your sneakers soaked to the socks), etc etc.  A properly paved circle with good underlayment is the ultimate stunt dream. Only thing better is having no obstructions and clean air around the circle. You WILL get over your fear of flying over pavement, you WONT get over turning down the paved circle when you finally realize what you lost out on. My .02

EricV

Hey Frank
Reach out to Eric Viglione....He designed the 1/4 circle that the MCRC installed....1/4 circle is plenty for all types of CL excepting Scale...

You'll be surprised how quickly costs go up.

Good news!

Have fun!

[Steve Helmick]

Go for it and help the R/C bods learn to fly CL better than you? Yes, right away!    Steve

PS: It's a mystery why Howard's flying circle is on the wrong part of his estate, and grass impaired.

[dave siegler]

I am going to play devils advocate here.   Not to cause trouble but to have your eyes open. 

Just be sure you fit in in this club.  I have attended some RC club events, invited to do control line demos, and they were not very welcoming, 

It makes me wonder why it is shrinking?  Is it the members and leadership?
Look at the safety rules.  One RC club.  No hand starting of engines no flying alone, no hand launching  only 3 airplane in the air at time.  Pretty rigid.   

The offer for a paved circle is great.   Will they actually do it?  Will the club members approve it, or is this one guy talking out of turn?     

[mike londke]

        While flying UC at the local model airplane club yesterday, an official of the club approached my mate and I and asked if we would like to have a paved area on which to fly UC.  We discussed it for a bit and considered the shape, size and building material to be used.  My friend is afraid of flying over pavement due to the massive damage that may happen due to a crash.  At present, we are flying over grass the excludes any but the largest size of airplanes. I suggested a doughnut shape of pavement with a paved spot in the middle for the pilots.  Perhaps a compromise.  We were informed that money is no object as the club is well endowed. The RC site is leased yearly from a very cooperative farmer.

         I later learned that this club that had a large membership in the past has dwindled in size.  We were told that a few RC fliers has given up on RC and were contemplating flying UC to meet their flying needs. Perhaps this club is wishing in adding numbers to their club roster. 

       Our club has no field of their club but pay insurance on three park areas where we fly. Our club has perhaps  active members and I can see that it may be disbanded any day. If We join another club, would we still have to pay for AMA insurance to fly there or would their AMA insurance also cover us?

        Kindly post suggestions concerning this mater.

                                                                                                                         Tia,

                                                                                                                          Frank McCune

Where will this be? City/State? thx.

[Scott Richlen]

I'd jump on that opportunity like the Lone Ranger on Silver.

Or Roy Rogers and Dale Evans....