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ALTA & DUST

Discussion in 'ALTA' started by georgemcnabb, Oct 21, 2015.

  1. georgemcnabb

    georgemcnabb Member

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    Hey guys,

    Looking for a quick bit of advice, I ruined a set of motors with dust, although it was magnetic dust, because we have weird beaches I still wanted to ask cause now I am constantly paranoid.

    We are flying on a construction site tomorrow and wondering what everyone else does when flying from a dusty environment. I know many of you fly in deserts and I have seen the Copter Kids flying it in high winds with dust going everywhere...

    Do you just clean it all down with high pressure air afterwards or whats the verdict?

    Thanks in advance!
     
    #1 georgemcnabb, Oct 21, 2015
  2. Todd Hillhouse

    Todd Hillhouse New Member

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    I'm curious too. I saw the alta on a demo land in some rough dirt small debris was flying everywhere. I guess it is mostly the type of particles that make up the dust that determines said damage if any.
     
    #2 Todd Hillhouse, Oct 21, 2015
  3. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    For those kinds of situations I use a 10' x 10' blue** tarp as a take off and landing zone -- with weights around the edges. If you take off vertically (and "briskly") the prop-wash holds the tarp down.

    For landing, The technique I use a vertical descent to about 10' above the center of the tarp and hold it there to blow away any dust that's settled from the take-off (or the wind has brought in).

    But yes, George, I'd use an air hose or can of compressed air to blow the motors clean -- be carefully not to blow the propellant into the motors though...keep the can upright. :)

    Andy

    ** It has to be blue for it to be known as a Haynes-approved tarp. An in-joke from several years ago. :)
     
    #3 Andy Johnson-Laird, Oct 21, 2015
    Steve Maller and MIke Magee like this.
  4. MIke Magee

    MIke Magee Active Member

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    I find that a brown tarp works just as well well too.
    -m
     
    #4 MIke Magee, Oct 21, 2015
  5. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    I'll let Mr. Haynes make his own disdainful comment here, Mike. :)

    Andy.
     
    #5 Andy Johnson-Laird, Oct 21, 2015
  6. alex ryan

    alex ryan Member

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    The only tarp I have is green :(
     
    #6 alex ryan, Oct 21, 2015
  7. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    Alex. Sorry. Mr. Haynes does not approve of green tarps. Blue is better because....well, just because. :)

    Andy
     
    #7 Andy Johnson-Laird, Oct 21, 2015
  8. Gary Haynes

    Gary Haynes Administrator
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    And in a magnetic environment blue with non ferrous shiny brass grommets attached to wooden pegs. Plenty of wooden pegs around this time of year due to Halloween and vampires....
     
    #8 Gary Haynes, Oct 22, 2015
  9. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    Joking apart, I've seen some folks who construct a plywood "landing pad" about 2 meters (6 feet in Fahrenheit) square and use that as an alternative to the tarp. For reasons already stated, it must be painted blue. :rolleyes:

    EDIT: Oh....I should have mentioned that it's either hinged along the center line, or interlocks like a jig-saw puzzle (I'm not very fond of jig-saw puzzles, so it would have to be a design best describes as "Jig-saw Puzzle for Idiots" for me.)

    Andy
     
    #9 Andy Johnson-Laird, Oct 22, 2015
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