Frequency Control Anecdote - Don't do This

[from the January-February 2001 newsletter]

by Ned White

"Lazy, Lucky"

That's what happened to me the last time I went out flying. It started out great, I had two aircraft on Channel 13, I had one transmitter on Channel 13. All is good in OZ!! I started by the book, impounding the transmitter and getting out one plane, checking it over and assembling it (put the wing on). I then went to the impound, got out a safety yoke to hold the airplane, got my transmitter, put my club card on the channel board and took channel 13 pin, Things are still cool in OZ!! I got several flights on that plane and thought that I should get the other one out

So I checked in my Channel 13 pin back on the board and took down my club card and put it on my transmitter for safekeeping. I then took out "Fugly" and checked it over, put the wing on, put fuel in it and went over to get my transmitter out of the impound. I then started Fugly and went flying, for approx. 35-45 min., landed, refueled and flew for another 35-45 min, landed and started walking back to the transmitter impound when I saw it, the club card on my antenna, not the channel 13 pin!!!

Don't let this happen to you. You may not get as lucky as me. And, that is all I was, lucky!

Let's keep an eye out so this type of thing won't happen to someone else and cause a mishap "Crash"

Keep em Fly'en

Ned