Flying alone is the 'Pits'

Here's one for the books. Took my 'Twister' out to our RC field today. The wind was out of the north, so I could launch from the mowed runway. The engine started on the 2nd flip and ran nice; had a decent launch and take-off ... then the fun began!! After about 4 laps I felt something tugging at my feet. I glanced down and realized that the stooge line was wrapping around my shoes. I tried everything and probably looked like an idiot stomping around out there. All I could do was to finish the flight and try to ignore it, but it got the best of me. I stumbled, but didn't fall; the plane did! I wasn't too bad; she went in inverted, knocking off the fin and rudder, the needle valve extension, and breaking the prop. A little epoxy, new needle valve and prop, and she'll be in the air; BUT, I won't be out there alone. This was my last 'solo' flight; it's just too dangerous, especially for a 65 year old with heart trouble. I was stupid, but I've just become "un-stupid".
Glen

Hi Glen,
Sorry to learn of your tribulations. I agree that flying alone isn't ideal, but there are precautions which reduce the liklihood of an outcome such as yours.

1) the stooge release line must be captive at the stooge end.
2) Make the stooge line slightly shorter than your flying lines -

I keep the release line on a reel and unroll just enough that I can reach it while maintaining tight flight lines.

3) If you do somehow get tangled up, do a long series of lazy eights or alternate series of inside/outside loops so it doesn't get worse. You might try some level inverted laps to unwrap yourself, but I'm not certain this wouldn't make it worse.

There were a couple of lengthy threads on this topic a few months ago.

Thanks, Ralph:
IF I ever fly alone again, I WILL have a setup like you described. Mine is a pull-out doubled-over wire that fits around the tail wheel wire making it impossible for the plane to inadvertantly launch, but I've noticed that when I pop the pin out, it, and the fishing line it's attached to will spring to the inside of the circle, sometimes aas far in as 20'. NOT GOOD! The real answer, especially for an old f**t like me is to fly with a buddy, or ask my wife to help.
Glen

I've had the same thing happen, so when I use the stooge I get the model off the ground and nearly 1/4 lap then throw the stooge line handle (1/2" dowel) out away from myself. Makes some funny looking take-offs, but I've never gotten tangled up again.

I had something even stranger happen this sunday.

I had just finished a flight and let the motor cool off. My 10 year old was with me but he doesn't like to launch so I used the stooge.

I was taking off dead down wind and whipped the plane into the pits made a good landing. I always run my lines out, I still don't know how this happened. Anyway, a normal take off then the airplane pitches up and turns in on me, but the lines are tight. the stooge handle is being pulled along the grass. After 1/4 of a lap, The handlejerks hard and the plane pitched down into the grass.

The motor is fine but the rest is a total write off.

From what I figure when I pulled the stooge line, the breeze blew it into the lines and it hooked on the down line clip.

I use light kite line for my stooge, so if I get tangled up, I can break it. I also back up about 10 feet once I take off.
Over 500 stooge launches and never a problem related to the stooge.

I will keep using a stooge, but I will change my procedure a lot. I think staking the stooge line out about 10 feet or so is a good idea. I may look at adding a leash to the airplane to keep the line away from the airplane also.

I will also be looking at stooges that do not require a release line

Airplane stooges are safe, the stooges that use stooges are not safe.

Dave
Dave

Lots of good hindsight here.
If this happens, how about just do lazy eights until the engine stops.

The "Lazy 8's" idea is a good one. I had plenty of wind to keep them out there with tight lines. I was just going through a 'cranial cramp' (also known as a 'brain f*rt'), and failed to think. Although I stated that I would never again fly alone, realistically, if I don't do some flying alone, I won't be able to fly very much.
Thanks again, everybody.
Glen

It happens to the best. One time Bill Melton was flying one of his red-hot carrier ships, at speed, and the third (throttle) line broke - at the airplane.

This left a loose 65' line on the ground, and a screaming carrier ship, which Bill kept flying. As he did, the throttle wire wrapped around his legs and starting binding him up. Worse (from Bill's view), that big (Nelson or Rossi) .60 engine was "toasting" away.

After several hopping passes, he managed to move off the center of the field and plant the ship in a tree - deliberately. It was amusing to talk about, afterward, but I don't Bill had that much fun going through the experience.

[photo not recovered: 3e69bb3870f12ad5.jpg]

"Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects." -Lester Pearson

I can't help thinking that some of you guys are making this a little more complicated than it needs to be!

Get rid of the fishing line or whatever is you're using to release your stooge and replace it with a length of nylon cord. The nylon won't stretch and you can see it in the grass.

Also... set your stooge up so that the aircraft is somewhat outside of its flight path. That way, you can release the stooge and drop the handle or cord. Since you'll be stepping back into the center of the circle, there will be no chance of you're getting wrapped up in your work.

Lastly, you can use an old set of flying lines for the stooge release. They don't stretch. Just attach them to some kind of small handle that you can drop or toss away once you release the plane and before you step into the center of the circle.

BIGS

PS: your stooge line should never be longer than your flying lines!

I think that nylon cord is a good thing, but I think it’s good because it is fairly elastic/stretchy. As mentioned above, the stooge line should be fixed to the stooge. A good, strong, positive tug and the nylon has enough “spring” to recoil the cord back toward the pit, well out of harms way. I’m mostly unaware of releasing the stooge handle/line. I just see it sitting about 10’ out in front of me.

I use the high visibility nylon cord they sell at the home improvement store. Light, very strong, and easy to see. Attach a little less than 70’ to a 4” cut of the old broom handle, and half hitch a few times at the length desired, depending on your lines. After the first flight remember to replace your stooge handle in reach of your flying handle before you start up. Otherwise you will be holding your flying handle when you notice your stooge handle is 10’ in front of you, and on the “front side” of your lines.

Do you:
1. Set down your flying handle, walk in front of the lines, pick up the stooge line, and hope dragging it back does not release the plane?
2. Carry your flying handle, walk in front of the lines, pick up the stooge line, and hope dragging it back does not release the plane, at least while the lines are slack enough to hang up in the grass and/or cut your ear off?
3. Run back to the plane, either in front of, or behind the lines, thinking the whole way that you hope it does not take off now, shut it down and start over?
4. Stand there holding the handle, visualizing your flight, and hope no one is watching, until it runs out of fuel?

I know the right answer and I know the one(s) I’ve done. When I’m flying alone it’s easy to see who the person that may put me in a dangerous situation is. This summer I had:
One broken line,
One bird strike,
And one hung line on a weed fly across the circle right over your freakin’ head slam the end of the lines and jerk the handle clean out of your hands right to the end of the thong man that hurts your wrist thing. And I’m just flying .25 and .35. Can’t imagine that with one of the Big Dogs. Rip your arm off, I’d think.

Best,

Hi Glen,

Sorry about your crash. My son did the same thing a while back while I never have though I have flown alone more often than not.

I think rather than giving up which will reduce your flying opportunities, there are some simple things to do that ensure it won't happen again.

I use flouresent brickies line for the stoog release so I can see it easily.

The other thing is I put my yellow flight box right next to the stoog release in the centre of the circle. After take off, I move back so I can keep see the box and hold my position away from the stooge line.

I am sure others have their methods of avaiding this problem.

Sorry about the stooge line problem.
I used a stooge for the first time in many years last weekend 'cause no one else showed up. I tied the stooge line off at 60 feet. Then as soon as the plane launched I back up 10 ft. or so, so I was nowhere near the stooge.

The best part was I'd put in a new venturi. Got 3 13 min flights in less than an hour. Great fun. Do the pattern, so some of the usual messing around. The plane is still flying. Do some more messing around, do another pattern, it's still flying. So do some more messing around and it quits at the bottom of a square loop. After I landed in the grass I figured I'd better time the flights!!!

I usually make a pit stop after every pattern, but your way sounds more efficient.

I was flying last week and got a finger caught in a loop of the stooge line when I released the plane. I was considering my options-- I was wondering if I could bite off the finger in one chomp-- when I finally got loose from the line. It was exciting for the first second or so of the flight.

I try to carry a cell phone with me so I can call for help when I hurt myself or get wrapped up in the lines.

I fly with a stooge too. I use one of my 60 ft control lines as a release cable. I have a habit of stepping back about 5 steps after take off and have never gotten tangled in the release cable. It is something to think about.

Once when I was flying in the grass area at the park I stepped in a dipped places in the ground and fell down. I landed directly on my wallet and it hammers a dent in me like landing on a wooden block. I sat on the ground doing figure 8's for about a minute then got up and finished the flight.

When my wallet gets to that point, I'm going to retire.

I've always used the "Step Back" method since I built my first stooge in the early 60s. Also had the pin spring loaded so it doesn't fall out.
Funniest episode I ever had with a stooge was at our local R/C field. Since nobody had shown up all day, I got out the CL stuff and got in a couple flights. My stooge line is fastened to the pin by a key ring so I can disconnect it for transport. One of the club members shows up and starts setting up while I'm flying, so after I land, I move the plane and lines to the side, disconnect the stooge and take it, battery and fuel to the pits. As I start back to recover the line, he makes a take-off, with about 40 feet of nylon line trailing from his tail wheel.the other 20 was still attached, just on the other side.
He was a good enough pilot not to loose the plane either with the line and handle trailing behind, even when the line caught in the trees at the end of the field on his landing approach.
We had a good laugh about it after he calmed down.
He had never seen a CL plane before after 15 years in R/C.

Speaking of RC guys, I was visiting with a friend who has been flying RC for 35+ years. He was telling me of the trouble a friend of his was having trying to fly CL. He said his friend could never keep the lines tight after take off and the plane would turn in to him and crash. I asked him whether he was taking off into, or with the wind. "Into the wind, of course." 'nuff said.
Glen