Slashed!
When a 6-ounce foam wing runs into a 3 lb. 450-class helicopter, this is what happens.
Fortunately, Danh Le’s T-Rex helicopter survived the encounter and landed successfully, suffering only a nick in one blade.
The Mini SpeedWing lost its right elevon, about a third of its wing tip and some shreds of foam from the wing itself.
This little wing has proved itself in combat. I’d guess that it’s flown 70 or more combat sessions without suffering serious injury. I’ve rehinged the elevons, Gooped up rips in its foam and resoldered the motor leads. Otherwise, it seemed indestructible.
Midday Friday, Danh was flying on the right side of the Great Meadow, cruising in moderately wide circles. I was about 200 feet to his left, just off the Pickleweed path, flying combat with Dave North and Frank Ducker. I drifted to my right. Danh circled to his left.
Whap!
I plummeted to the ground. Danh continued his circle and landed in front of himself, fully under control.
We joked that Danh just earned a kill sticker.
I’m relieved that Danh suffered no significant damage. My wing was getting pretty ragged from its daily combat routine and I had already started to build a replacement. I’m ready to move on.
It’s a dramatic reminder to fly within a narrow slice of sky when we’re doing combat.
Tags: Baylands, Combat, Crashes, Flying, Helicopters, Wings.
May 26th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Wind. It was the wind that did it!
Actually, I think Danh has been ogling the combat with a bit of envy since he started flying planes. My guess is, he just improvised on the moment. At any rate, he earned a kill sticker!
May 27th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
He he. I was lucky the last time as the T-Rex 450 blades only cut into Pete’s combat wing elevon. The next time if my helicopter encounters combat wings, I am pretty sure I need a big plastic bag to collect to broken pieces
I normally fly at either end of the Meadow, but I strained my toe that day and was lazy to walk all the way to the end of the Meadow.
Cheers,
Danh