Bees attack!

[Vitalis Pilkionis]

At the recent local competitions a swarm of bees suddenly attacked my friend while flying his model. I entered the circle and tried to help him with my hat. Somehow he managed not to loose control of the model and landed it safely. My friend counted 14 bites altogether and I got just a few. Fortunately both of us are not allergic to bee sting and survived well. Now the dance looks kinda funny, but surely I will remember this happening till my last days.



Vitalis Pilkionis

[Dennis Saydak]

Yikes! I didn't know Killer Bees were still available. Looks like you guys cornered the market on them.

[Tim Wescott]

Ouch!

You might want to check your flying field for ground-dwelling bees.  I've been attacked by those in Oregon more than once.  They usually leave us big critters alone, but get upset if we go stepping into their nests. 

My pasture was scattered with these little mounds the last time I mowed my flying field.  I looked in expecting a worm, and saw a bee butt -- it's some sort of solitary bee, working (I assume) on the next generation.

[Gerald Arana]

Vitalis,

Seems to me that the pilot should've stood in one spot while doing figure eights instead of you chasing him all over the pad like that!

Oh well, Jerry

[Howard Rush]

Beware Max Bees. They are the most dangerous.

[Steve Lotz]

Could this be a preview of Brodaks and the cicadas?

[Jerry Eichten]

Reminds me of the bee attack launched against Ted Fancher. 

During a flight at the 2003 Northwest Regionals in Albany Oregon, Ted's airplane sucked in a bee during inverted laps and the engine quit. Ted reacted immediately and saved the plane.  Very impressive flying. 

Photo of the suicidal bee from Ted's venturi. 

[Larry Renger]

And don't forget those finger cuts from Babe Bees! 

[Dan Berry]

This will help.

[Gary Dowler]

If anyone does run into problems with ground nests of stinging insects, forget chemicals. The solution is easy and cheap. A bucket of water with a good dose of liquid dish soap mixed in, and a shovel.  Pour some onto the nest opening, then start breaking up the ground with the shovel, frequently pouring in more soapy water. The soap acts as a wetting agent, allowing the water to get into their breathing holes, drowning them in seconds.
This works well for above ground nests as well. A pump up sprayer with the same soapy water (stirred, not shaken!), locate the nest in the evening, and hose it down. They will fall to the ground in seconds and are dead within 1/2 a minute.  I learned this 15 years ago watching a show on the African bees. The guy eradicated a nest using nothing but a back pack sprayer filled with soapy water.

Gary

[Perry Rose]

In the New England area the ground dwelling bee we had to watch out for was the yellow jacket (asshole with wings). Whenever I found a hole I used a half cup of gasoline poured into the hole using a long pipe. The resulting explosion did the rest.

[Paul Walker]

Must have been Belarus bees coming to get you! 😜😜😜

[Jim Kraft]

I run a lot of engines on the test stand in my back yard. The only trouble I have ever had is running Fox 59's. They seem to draw bumble bees. I can run Spitfires and Super Cyclones and every thing else, but for some reason the Foxes draw them. Some of them even go through the prop and get cut to pieces. It has happened at the flying field also. I try to set them and leave for the handle as soon as possible. If you run them they will come.