Hi everyone! Here we are in February, with the annual AMA Convention behind us again. For those of you that couldn't go, the event was about the same as last year - three thousand folks jammed into the Pasadena Civic Center, with no way to get anywhere in a hurry. I'm personally looking forward to the promise of more space in Ontario, California next year (yep, the convention is moving), but I'll sure miss the town of Pasadena.
  From my "Don't try this at home" file comes the following safety article, submitted by the Cascade Model Helicopter Club, Dick McKenna editor: 

  My cordless Dremel tool recently died and I had diagnosed that two of the NiCd cells were "toast." Unlike the fully plastic-covered cells used in our RC battery packs, these batteries were the typical "cordless appliance" type, i.e., covered only with a thin cardboard tube around the outside and crimped over on the positive end to afford a minimal amount of insulation protection. I carefully wrapped the 5-cell battery pack inside a heavy plastic bag and went to the local "batteries-R-us" store to purchase two new 1000 mAh, Sub C replacement cells. I also told the store clerk that I needed two metal connecting straps so I could rebuild the pack. The job was a simple and routine battery replacement procedure and my cordless Dremel tool now accepts a full charge and works good as new. But let me tell you of a couple mistakes that were made in the process of obtaining the new batteries and the chain of events that followed: My Embarrassing "Blazing Pocket" Incident 1. Upon my purchasing the batteries, the man behind the counter put the two new cells and the separate metal connecting straps in the same bag with my old 5-cell pack! A "red flag" popped up here, but apparently I wasn't paying attention. 2. In the process of leaving the store, I was sidetracked at their cellular phone display. During the ensuing "hands-on" examination of a neat little cell phone, I inadvertently stuck the plastic bag in my pants pocket! Is a mild disaster about to happen here? DUH! How many stories have appeared in your own newsletter over the years on this same subject? After a couple of minutes the extra weight in my right front pocket was getting uncomfortable and I unconsciously reached down and repositioned it. It was at this precise moment, as later described by the lady at the counter, that I got a very "strange" look on my face and very quickly pulled this burning and dripping plastic bag out of my pocket and dropped it on the floor! The very surprised young lady said "Holy Cow!" (Not her exact words, but this is a family column), as she stomped out the flames of the blazing mounds of molten plastic that I had just deposited on her tiled floor! I really wasn't of much help to her, I had to finish my involuntary "hot pants afire" routine, which is normally not a thing I do in public!
  While being both embarrassed and experiencing pain at the same time, I was also making sure that the fire in my pocket was fully out! I was one very busy guy for a few seconds! I was very relieved to see that I really can move fast when necessary, but you know that, you've witnessed my "catlike" reflexes many times at the flying field! Think of the humiliation! I was standing in a downtown store with my pants on fire! I had a 1" hole in my pocket where the fire had burnt through to the skin on my thigh and another 1/2" hole through the outside of my pants that was still hot and smoldering. All in all, a tough act to follow! After everything, and everyone, cooled down somewhat, the lady inspected the suspicious pocket cargo and started asking questions. She was being very polite, but I could tell by her "burning" and questioning eyes that what she was really wondering was, "Why would anyone put batteries in their pocket?" Our resulting joint "autopsy" revealed that at least one of the metal connecting straps that I had just purchased had apparently made contact between the (positive) center button and the (negative) outside metal case of a cell in my original battery pack. This had set the paper covering, and the plastic bag, and my pants, (and my leg), on fire. One of the new cells and both of the connecting straps that I had just purchased were destroyed! 
  The young lady declined my offer to pay for yet another replacement cell and gave me a new one. (She either felt that the other clerk should have known better and put my original purchases in a separate bag, especially the metal connecting straps, or she actually felt sorry for me! Maybe I did whimper a time or two?) My personal feelings are that I was very stupid in the first place by letting the other clerk do what he did! I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER! As I mentioned earlier, we have all heard the stories about someone, somewhere, putting their Ni-starter in their pocket with similar predictable results when it shorted out on pocket change etc! I know a fellow, who just like me, either wasn't thinking or was preoccupied at the time, who dropped an alkaline battery in his pants pocket. He said that he later had the same ensuing hot sensation when a dime or quarter shorted across the two exposed terminals of the 9V battery! Ouch, that's harsh! My new $48.00 pair of Dockers will never make another public appearance and the medicated ointment is still at work on the 2-inch diameter burn on my leg. For now, it is a constant and painful reminder of my carelessness! 
  The burn will eventually heal, and in time, my pride will too. You can bet that I will never put another battery in my pants pocket! "Never put a battery of any type in your pocket! If you think that 1.2 volts won't start a fire and melt your pants, think again, I know!" "Jack" The foregoing story really is true and actually happened very recently! The names have been changed to protect the guilty! And you thought I didn't know "Jack"! Well, this wraps it up for another month. Happy and safe flying. Bill

  The next meeting of the MMRCC is scheduled for February 6, 2003 at 7:00 P.M. The meeting will be held at the TRW facility (Highway 90 Bypass). Personnel are required to sign-in and sign out for security purposes.

  Just one observation that I have seen at the field these past several weeks. When you are on the line flying, how about a little courtesy in the way of safety. When ready to take off, announce loud enough to hear, "TAKING OFF", and the same when ready "LANDING". If going onto the runway, how about an "ON THE RUNWAY" and then an "ALL CLEAR". This could possibly avoid an accident.
  See you at the meeting and the field. Will