Good post, Skiproiii. I'm a big advocate of hand launch/recovery, too. My technique resembles yours closely. I recover from the stern, though. My strobe is back there, right on the trailing edge of the battery and it helps with more surface area to grasp.
However, a recent event has tempered my enthusiasm for hand ops. A last-second gust of wind just as I was catching my Mini 3 ripped the aircraft from my grasp and with a snarl from the props unlike any I've ever heard, it nearly recovered, landing upright in a nearby ditch in foot-deep grass. No damage, other than to my self-righteous hand launch opinions.
Pain narrowly averted. Lesson learned. Wind is unpredictable and those props are nasty.
Of course, danger lurks everywhere, especially with devices that have fast-spinning, sharp bits. Like table saws. Or immersion blenders. Or lawn mowers.
We can't eliminate dangers, but we can be aware of them and take appropriate measures. I'm gonna look for a pair of substantial mechanic's gloves. The catching hand could probably use the insurance.
However, a recent event has tempered my enthusiasm for hand ops. A last-second gust of wind just as I was catching my Mini 3 ripped the aircraft from my grasp and with a snarl from the props unlike any I've ever heard, it nearly recovered, landing upright in a nearby ditch in foot-deep grass. No damage, other than to my self-righteous hand launch opinions.
Pain narrowly averted. Lesson learned. Wind is unpredictable and those props are nasty.
Of course, danger lurks everywhere, especially with devices that have fast-spinning, sharp bits. Like table saws. Or immersion blenders. Or lawn mowers.
We can't eliminate dangers, but we can be aware of them and take appropriate measures. I'm gonna look for a pair of substantial mechanic's gloves. The catching hand could probably use the insurance.
