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Damn, I thought the model clubs won this debate 50 years ago. What's the excuse this time? Terrorists making remote controlled bombs? Creeps taking aerial photo

Damn, I thought the model clubs won this debate 50 years ago. What's the excuse this time? Terrorists making remote controlled bombs? Creeps taking aerial photographs? Kids having fun outside instead of doing their homework? Bloggers keep bringing up interference with air traffic, but that's completely irrelevant. Models are required by law to stay under 500 feet, and civil aviation is required to stay above. Even if there was a collision, it would do no more damage than a bird strike. And birds don't know they're supposed to stay away from airports. Kites, model rockets, and laser pointers are all more dangerous to commercial aircraft than model aircraft.

sliverstorm 11y ago
I gather many drone operators have flagrantly violated the 500 foot flight ceiling. Perhaps it's more of an issue now because in the days of RC planes operated line-of-sight, you inherently had a tougher time flying high & far than today with live video feed and long range controls.
- thrownaway2424 11y ago
  It also used to be a requirement that you knew how to fly the aircraft, which wasn't much easier than flying a real airplane, and in the case of R/C helicopters was actual harder than flying a full-sized manned helicopter. With the latest multicopters and even some of the electric fixed-wing craft, any moron can keep the thing in the air. Hence the current wave of trouble.
  - thescriptkiddie 11y ago
    Fixed-wing models have been idiot-proof for a long time. You can buy a beginner's kit at any hobby store, and they're much easier to fly than a multirotor. I don't think accessibility is responsible for the recent popularity of multirotors, I think they're just more interesting because they're unlike anything full-sized.
    - thrownaway2424 11y ago
      Guess I'm just old then. When I was learning, most models would barely fly, and then only if you flew them perfectly.
      - khedoros 11y ago
        Models these days are generally built of durable and reparable foam, and the thrust/weight ratio is often over 1:1. Stalls are easy to avoid, and most beginning-level planes can be safely glided down without power (that is, just enough to power the servos without running the prop). If you're lucky, you should be able to repair your way through a few crashes. That being said, my wife has flown a quadcopter with zero experience (but careful supervision of the owner). My impression is that a high quality multirotor will be easier to fly than a fixed-wing.
InclinedPlane 11y ago
Birds are not made of metal and drones absolutely can be vastly more dangerous to aircraft than a bird. Besides which, bird strikes absolutely can be devastating to aircraft and they've caused numerous crashes and many fatalities. Millions of dollars a year is spent keeping birds away from airports.

sliverstorm 11y ago

I gather many drone operators have flagrantly violated the 500 foot flight ceiling. Perhaps it's more of an issue now because in the days of RC planes operated line-of-sight, you inherently had a tougher time flying high & far than today with live video feed and long range controls.

thrownaway2424 11y ago
It also used to be a requirement that you knew how to fly the aircraft, which wasn't much easier than flying a real airplane, and in the case of R/C helicopters was actual harder than flying a full-sized manned helicopter. With the latest multicopters and even some of the electric fixed-wing craft, any moron can keep the thing in the air. Hence the current wave of trouble.
- thescriptkiddie 11y ago
  Fixed-wing models have been idiot-proof for a long time. You can buy a beginner's kit at any hobby store, and they're much easier to fly than a multirotor. I don't think accessibility is responsible for the recent popularity of multirotors, I think they're just more interesting because they're unlike anything full-sized.
  - thrownaway2424 11y ago
    Guess I'm just old then. When I was learning, most models would barely fly, and then only if you flew them perfectly.
    - khedoros 11y ago
      Models these days are generally built of durable and reparable foam, and the thrust/weight ratio is often over 1:1. Stalls are easy to avoid, and most beginning-level planes can be safely glided down without power (that is, just enough to power the servos without running the prop). If you're lucky, you should be able to repair your way through a few crashes. That being said, my wife has flown a quadcopter with zero experience (but careful supervision of the owner). My impression is that a high quality multirotor will be easier to fly than a fixed-wing.

InclinedPlane 11y ago

Birds are not made of metal and drones absolutely can be vastly more dangerous to aircraft than a bird. Besides which, bird strikes absolutely can be devastating to aircraft and they've caused numerous crashes and many fatalities. Millions of dollars a year is spent keeping birds away from airports.