Airplanes. Airplanes everywhere!

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Hallry

You should tell that to the speaker from the Air Force today at Opening Ceremonies who encouraged everyone to throw paper airplanes.

I'll see your Air Force speaker, and raise you one FRC director. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...45#post1381845

[sanddrag]

It was literally a barrage of paper airplanes coming in down on the floor, most from nearby that were rather poorly crafted and did not fly well at all. I was hit probably a dozen times, and I was taking cover near the wall. I thought it was rather rude and unprofessional to essentially be throwing trash in the venue prior to a grand event like the opening ceremonies. Do they do this at the Olympics? Then again, our game involves an element of the alliances throwing trash at each other...

And then there were flying saucers. Yes, plates being thrown like Frisbees.

And then, the Air Force guy encouraged everyone to make and throw an airplane...

I will be honest and say though, I was mildly amused by the couple that made it all the way to the big screen on the stage, and they seemed to catch Dean and Woodie's attention (in some way, not sure which) too.

Perhaps we ought to have a one-time airplane contest on one of the days, and ban them the rest of the time.

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by EricH

I'll see your Air Force speaker, and raise you one FRC director. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...45#post1381845

Oh yes, I agree with Frank's opinion, and while it is a tradition, it is a hassle to both spectators and the custodial crew. I personally have been hit by many paper airplanes while sitting on the Dome floor watching the Einstein matches in 2012 and 2013. All I'm saying is that if it is to stop, everyone must be on board, including the sponsors who speak to literally everybody in attendance.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

It was literally a barrage of paper airplanes coming in down on the floor, most from nearby that were rather poorly crafted and did not fly well at all. I was hit probably a dozen times, and I was taking cover near the wall. I thought it was rather rude and unprofessional to essentially be throwing trash in the venue prior to a grand event like the opening ceremonies. Do they do this at the Olympics?

And then there were flying saucers. Yes, plates being thrown like Frisbees.

And then, the Air Force guy encouraged everyone to make and throw an airplane...

I will be honest and say though, I was mildly amused by the couple that made it all the way to the big screen on the stage, and they seemed to catch Dean and Woodie's attention (in some way, not sure which) too.

Perhaps we ought to have a one-time airplane contest on one of the days, and ban them the rest of the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN5iZVxnSr8

Maybe not the Olympics but still a professional sport.

[Abrakadabra]

Let's see - they kick everyone out of the pits at 5:30 sharp, and then rather than starting the ceremony on time at 6:00, the actual starting time gets dragged out till almost 6:30.

What do they expect thousands of idle engineering hands to do in the meantime?!?!

[OAXACA]

Watching all the airplanes launch was literally the coolest thing ever.

[BrennanB]

Originally Posted by OAXACA

Watching all the airplanes launch was literally the coolest thing ever.

And the worst nightmare of whoever has to clean it up.

[216Robochick288]

Originally Posted by OAXACA

Watching all the airplanes launch was literally the coolest thing ever.

Until you cant watch them because you got hit in the eye by a rouge airplane. I was in the seats, I don't feel like I need to wear safety glasses in the seats

[OAXACA]

Originally Posted by 216Robochick288

Until you cant watch them because you got hit in the eye by a rouge airplane. I was in the seats, I don't feel like I need to wear safety glasses in the seats

I'm sorry

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by dodar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN5iZVxnSr8

Maybe not the Olympics but still a professional sport.

Strictly speaking, the Calgary Hitmen are an amateur team. They are a major junior (ages 16-20) hockey team in the Western Hockey League. However, teddy bear tosses do happen at professional games as well. Sorry, I had to #hockeynerd there.

I've made my opinion known about the "safety concerns" (or lack of) regarding paper airplanes in the past. I stand by them.

Originally Posted by BrennanB

And the worst nightmare of whoever has to clean it up.

Aside of when FIRST releases confetti after Einstein, that is.

[Electronica1]

Ever get the feeling that the human player throwing noodles in this years game is a response to the paper airplanes last year?

[BrennanB]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Strictly speaking, the Calgary Hitmen are an amateur team. They are a major junior (ages 16-20) hockey team in the Western Hockey League. However, teddy bear tosses do happen at professional games as well. Sorry, I had to #hockeynerd there.

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Aside of when FIRST releases confetti after Einstein, that is.

Aha you do bring up a point. Though they are arguably different things.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by BrennanB

Aha you do bring up a point. Though they are arguably different things.

Are they both not paper?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by dodar

Are they both not paper?

Confetti is rather more expected. It would be in the venue paperwork somewhere that "yeah, verily, we intend to release a cloud of confetti at some point during this event" and the venue would then go "Oh, yeah, these guys plan to release confetti, we'll need extra man-hours to clean that up, not a big deal" and either plan more time or plan more personnel.

Paper airplanes, on the other hand... ain't nobody gonna know they're comin' from the venue side, or at least that's what you should expect.

[wireties]

I had a professor in college once who said that you don't pour sidewalks where you prefer but where the grass is already gone. In other words you sometimes go with the flow even if you don't get it - human engineering.

I understand people who don't agree with the paper airplanes. Personally I think calling the throwers rude is a step too far. And are they all that dangerous, really? Plus the level of effort to pick them up is not all that crazy, nowhere near the effort to clean bathrooms etc. The airplanes are good clean, if justifiably annoying to some, fun.

Perhaps we should go with the flow and ask people to throw them at the same time? Or make a contest out of it?