Toy Airplane vs. Virgin Blue, "Near Miss"

[athaker]

Nice example of what wake turbulence can do.....

http://www.flightglobal.com/AIRSPACE/forums/video-virgin-blue-aircraft-has-near-miss-with-24112.aspx

[joeyb747]

That's Awesome!!!! 

I LOVE the TOP GUN lines dubbed over the footage. Hilarious!    But stupid at the same time...

[cessna157]

While that certainly is an interesting video, what is this clown doing flying R/C airplanes near an airport.  He better be careful posting videos like that.  That video, in the hands of some people, could be construed as an attempt at taking down the other airplane.

[flygirltammy]

It is kinda funny, but I don't think it should be getting close to the real ones like that.

[athaker]

Oh yea...I in no way support this idiot...and from what I gather from the little caption there's a police investigation going on... hopefully this guy gets in some real trouble.

[cessna157]

Heh heh, I'll have to make sure I don't take my models near any wakes though.  Trying to sell the poor things anyway.

[american2492]

Haha this is priceless. I wonder if the FAA goes after toy planes violating airspace haha... although I guess it would be the Australian Authorities

[joeyb747]

I highly doubt he had clearance to transition the airspace! 

[kea001]

Witnesses sought to near-miss between model plane and passenger jet



http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=137387

[joeyb747]

Last line in story kea001 linked to:

"Flying a model aircraft within 5.5km of an airport and at any distance on an approach path is a Federal offence."

That's why one should be careful what they put on Youtube! It was dumb to fly it that close to a major airport...but even dumber to put it on Youtube!

The TOP GUN lines still make me chuckle thou...

[joeyb747]

This story made the "Early Show"! The authorities are looking for this guy! I heard he could get two years in prison for it! Here is the video:

http://www.comcast.net/video/under-the-radar-04-25-09/1103801309/Comcast/1103130074/

[Mikea136]

I wonder what passengers thought as they looked out the window and saw an R/C Plane comeing at them.

[joeyb747]

I wonder what passengers thought as they looked out the window and saw an R/C Plane comeing at them.

I bet it went something like "What the *#%@ is that?"  Actually, they were landing at Perth, so I'm sure there was a "mate" on the end of that! I love the Australian accent! 

[joshgammon]

hey guys. i live in perth. from what i've heard he was part of a model plane club and some of his friends saw the story on the news and recognised the plane and dobbed him in to the police. not sure what the outcome was though. but two days after this happened i was doing some PFLs in the low level part in the training area and what i thought was a big bird turned out to be a small plane that was about 20m away from me. i wonder what that would have done if it had flown through my little 152 propeller :S

[westair]

It probably would have been torn to shreds. Plastic, light-weight model airplanes like that would probably just disintegrate upon impact with a Lycoming prop. Those things hit people (Quite a few youtube video's where people have been smacked across the face with one of these) and absolutely nothing happens to send them to the hospital.

Given, it was a dumb move to fly that thing that close to the airport (And the fact that he chased the plane showed it was intended), but I don't think it has the potential to take out a Cessna.

[Dan CZQM]

Those things hit people (Quite a few youtube video's where people have been smacked across the face with one of these) and absolutely nothing happens to send them to the hospital.

Actually these gas fired ones can do quite some damage to a person's face, or body for that matter so I would not think of them as harmless.  You can find pictures and videos of some of them going through car windshield etc.

A few years back, we had a Funfly for radio controlled aircrafts and part of that event was a radar run, and the fastest of the day was a radio controlled plane weighing I would guess 6 lbs with a wingspan of 68" travelling 78MPH, quite a dangerous weapon if used by the wrong person.

Most electric ones however are quite light and if it hit you in the back, you would feel the thump but probably not get hurt.

Dan

[cessna157]

Oh yes, the gas/alcohol powered R/C planes can be very dangerous.  Using your example, if an R/C plane meets a Cessna, the Cessna would win, unless it took a direct shot to the windshield.  But if an R/C plane were to be ingested into a jet engine, lots of damage would ensue.  Ironic, isn't it?

Oh, as a little tip, if you're working on an R/C gas engine, and you are doing a run-up on it, and you are adjusting the carb/mixture settings....don't wear loose clothing.  I speak with experience!   

[athaker]

Oh, as a little tip, if you're working on an R/C gas engine, and you are doing a run-up on it, and you are adjusting the carb/mixture settings....don't wear loose clothing.  I speak with experience!   

Ow!

[joshgammon]

i guess. could have scared the absolute shit out of me though. i'd be more worried about the metal bits coming through the windshield.

[dorishd]

No doubt in my mind he flew through the turbulence on purpose, to get the video and attention he is getting, except it may be the wrong attention now. What a moron.

[cessna157]

Heh heh, I think that would fall into the Natural Selection category then