Flying in public parks

[Mart61]

Hi guys

Probably gonna get flamed for this post but hey, c'est la vie...

I've seen numerous posts in recent weeks that show videos and pictures of forum members flying helis in public parks. They have been of all shapes and sizes, electric and nitro, 250 and up.

Is it just me or is this just plain wrong?

Whilst flying electric helis of any size may not be illegal in many parks, is it the right thing to do if the heli has the potential to injure (or worse) anyone that it hits? Like the MPs expense claims, it may not be illegal but is it the right thing to do? Surely, as responsible pilots, we must use some logic here? Perhaps a 450 is OK, but a 500 or larger?

Flying nitros in a public park is just plain idiotic. Period. There's a high chance in most parks that it is also illegal.

I don't want to see anyone being cautioned by the police, any member of the public injured or the hobby being bought into disrepute.

We know the risks associated with helis and have a good concept of the damage that one can do. However, before Christmas 2008, I had no idea of the destructive power of an OOC heli and, I suspect, neither do the public.

When teaching me to drive my father always taught me to assume that everyone else on the road is an idiot and drive accordingly. Surely we must think the same of the general public in the parks that some fly?

Discuss.



P.S. this is not having a personal pop at anyone or any specific post, just a general comment.

[Disc]

This has been flogged to death in other posts

you fly in a park where the by-laws allow it possible to fly but not wise...

Fly where it's not permitted your an idot be a 450 dize or 50 nitro!

Heli size doesn't matter each one could hurt a kid badly

fly in a park your a friggin muppet

[0h5h1t]

I tend to agree, upto 450 is fine in most places but common sense must prevail if people are about walking dogs etc or kids playing etc. Nitro in a public space is just wrong along with any heli 500 or larger.

I do fly my mini titan on the odd occasion in a park area, but always have a "spotter" and land as soon as anyone enters the park..

[norris_mcsquirter]

have to agree mart61 ive seen plenty of nitro smack downs at our club and you want to see some of the dents in the ground! nitros are seriously danderous and require the utmost respect..

[Tom Burgess]

Martin, I have seen some pretty dangerous flying of your Trex 500 in your back garden

[Mart61]

This has been flogged to death in other posts

Fair comment - just me feeling the need to rant. What I will say is the message isn't getting out there...

Martin, I have seen some pretty dangerous flying of your Trex 500 in your back garden

Again a fair comment. I am fortunate in that I am surrounded by high trees and hedges. What I will say is that I don't fly if my neighbours are in their gardens. Still not ideal tho, I'll grant you.

[Smoothound]

fly in a park your a friggin muppet

I seem to recall that most of Mr Davies videos are of him and Trvo flying in a park. I'd not class him or Trvo as muppets

I fly in 2 public parks but only have electric's. I got rid of my Knight 3D because I couldn't be arsed with dragging off to the club and it's bureaucracy <sp> everytime I wanted to fly. I go when it's quite not when 90 people are walking their dogs/kids, no problem The bonus is I fly when I want not when a club says I can, no queueing at the flight line no political garbage

[Sao]

As disc has said if the bye law prohibits it or you are not sure if flying is allowed there, don't do it. Still doesn't stop lots of prats with "park flyers" flaunting the laws and giving the hobby a bad name.

I know of three common ground flying sites here in the south where you can go and fly providing you are insured and you won't be breaking any laws.
Wormwood Scrubs. No club
Hertford. Has a club but you can still fly there
Wheathampsted No mans land. Now has a club affiliated with the BMFA but by law you can still fly there.

[Disc]

I seem to recall that most of Mr Davies videos are of him and Trvo flying in a park. I'd not class him or Trvo as muppets

True 2 people i'd not class as muppets but I bet one was watching out for the public and they had permission to be there

[Disc]

I tend to agree, upto 450 is fine in most places but common sense must prevail if people are about walking dogs etc or kids playing etc. Nitro in a public space is just wrong along with any heli 500 or larger.

I do fly my mini titan on the odd occasion in a park area, but always have a "spotter" and land as soon as anyone enters the park..

why is a 450 fine ?

please explain there not by any means safer than a 500 or 50 nitro

a 450 hits some one at head height it'll do enough damage be it a kid, adult, horse or dog.

Again bloody stupid if it's not permitted by a by-law

[Smoothound]

True 2 people i'd not class as muppets but I bet one was watching out for the public and they had permission to be there

Not so sure about the permission bit, most of these places it's just not specifically banned

[Tom Burgess]

I dont see the problem in flying in parks, as long as there is no by-law prohibiting it, you have BMFA insurance and lastly that there is ample room away from the public or any buildings.

I think it is the last thing that people struggle with as people have different levels of what they think is safe.

[MrKev]

Martin, the land on which your club flys is, for all intents and purposes, a public park. I've flown there, and had people walking dogs or riding horses past in the background...

[Tosh]

True 2 people i'd not class as muppets

So its one rule for us and a different one for them?

[Rodsport999]

nitros are seriously danderous and require the utmost respect..

Have to disagree here, some of the new electric heli's are far more powerfull than there nitro equivalent with the added danger that they are much quieter and no visual clue as to there location (ie, no smoke cloud)

I will not fly in a public park, it is too easy to be distracted or have loads of people coming for a look. Common sense must be used when choosing a flying area, the less chance of random people turning up the better, but if the byelaws allow you to fly, then fly!! cheers