Quad Copters

[Randy Cuberly]

When Garf revived that old thread about the drone crashing at the White House I was somewhat astounded by the addition to the thread of a Quad carrying a machine gun and destroying dummies etc.
It reminded me of the thread that went around the other day about shooting down drones flying over your property.  Looks like it might be a good idea at some point to do so.

At any rate it reminded me that last weekend a couple of guys showed up at our flying field wanting to fly a couple of Quad Copters that they had "built".

 The City of Tucson controls the Park where our field is located and they clearly have a sign posted that says Control Line Model flying only, No Radio Control or Free Flight aircraft allowed.

It was very windy and a small group of the usual suspects from The Cholla Choppers MAC had accumulated for the typical BS session that usually replaces flying when it's very windy.
The guys with the Quad Copters were very nice and talked to us for a while after we explained the rules of the field.  A couple of the guys suggested that "WE" really didn't have the authority to stop them from flying and since it was windy and we didn't want to fly they could do so if they wanted.  Personally I wasn't very comfortable with that but didn't have any authority to say no and besides the guys were very nice.

Well they set up thier stuff which turned out to be a tripod holding a computer, transmitter and a small viewing screen.  The quad copters were pretty small, about12 to 14 inches square I think, One fellow set up a chair put on a visor like headgear, sat down in a chair and proceeded to fly one of thes birds without looking at it.  The visor showed him a panoramic view of the landscape in front of the copter and away it went.  These things were NOT Toys!  They flew very fast...I would guess a least 75 to 80 MPH or more and were capable of operating Out of Sight.

The guy that was flying was a EE and had designed and built the circuitry etc to operate the things with parts etc. obtained locally.

Two things became very obvious to me; that these things could be a lot of FUN and/or very dangerous in the wrong hands.

I fully believe in freedom to do pretty much what one wants and is capable of, but this technology makes me a little nervous.

How long will it be before little Johnny has one of these things chasing his buddies?

As I said these things were very fast and almost silent.  If something like that were armed you probably would never see it coming until too late to do very much about it.

It struck me that it seemed to be the perfect assasination tool!  A little scarey!

Randy Cuberly

[Mike Keville]

T.E.O.M.A.W.K.I = "The End Of Modeling As We Knew it".

Pure junk . . . and a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[Phil Krankowski]

Concept proven.
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-graffiti-drone-an-interview-with-katsu

(Autoloads a video, so you know.)  Article is about a graffiti artist who is using a modified quad copter to spray "tags"

Phil

[Motorman]

If the city has those rules you should just call the cops.


MM

[Randy Cuberly]

If the city has those rules you should just call the cops.


MM

We prefer not to have "incidents" if there is no real danger.  These guys were not unruly and probably would have left if our club members insisted.

The worry here is not the unlawful use of the field, but the simple spread of this technology in a completely uncontrolled manner.

There is certainly nothing unlawful about flying these things and I'm not sure there should be and therein is the RUB!

Right now there is nothing to prevent a 10 year old flying these things if he can get one!

I'm certainly not in a panic over any of this.  I just thought everyone here should know about it!

The biggest danger in my opinion is basically what Mike said...It could be the end of modeling if there is a major incident!

Just my humble opinion of course!

Randy Cuberly

[dave siegler]

While the people should follow the rules, there are some interesting stuff going on in RC.

Look for the VTOL stuff it is all just guys working it out.  

Yes it is modeling.  No it does not use balsa dope and glue.  Some times it is foam sometimes it is electronics and code.  

The best auto pilot is open source, meaning is is contributed to by hobbyist all over the world.  

Lots of innovation.  Changes happen at a high rate.  Lots of problems to solve in that area.  That IS a huge part of modeling.  

Imagine how that works?  If all the top stunt guys could world together on an ultimate design?  Kind of exciting.  

Problems to solve in control line? Not so much.  Much bitching.  

Sites Like http://flitetest.com/ have a huge number of subscribers and collaborators.  

Check it out sometime if your minds are open it is pretty neat.  

many more people come to Joe Nall, SEF .... than Brodak's

Don't be so quick to discount this as toys and Junk.  it isn't

Don't write off all the people, they aren't all bad.  

Anyone that is so close minded that only see the bad, and fooling themselves, or are fossils.  

There is some cool s*&t going on there.

I love control line, but I do some electric RC as well.  I do electronics and Software ( large motor speed controls) all day to make a living.

Control line is a release from that.  

Control line and the the new part of the hobby scratches a different itch.  

[Mike Griffin]

What Mike Keville said

Mike

[EJN]

While the people should follow the rules, there are some interesting stuff going on in RC.

Look for the VTOL stuff it is all just guys working it out.  

Yes it is modeling.  No it does not use balsa dope and glue.  Some times it is foam sometimes it is electronics and code.  

The best auto pilot is open source, meaning is is contributed to by hobbyist all over the world.  

Lots of innovation.  Changes happen at a high rate.  Lots of problems to solve in that area.  That IS a huge part of modeling.  

Imagine how that works?  If all the top stunt guys could world together on an ultimate design?  Kind of exciting.  

Problems to solve in control line? Not so much.  Much bitching.  

Sites Like http://flitetest.com/ have a huge number of subscribers and collaborators.  

Check it out sometime if your minds are open it is pretty neat.  

many more people come to Joe Nall, SEF .... than Brodak's

Don't be so quick to discount this as toys and Junk.  it isn't

Don't write off all the people, they aren't all bad.  

Anyone that is so close minded that only see the bad, and fooling themselves, or are fossils.  

There is some cool s*&t going on there.

I love control line, but I do some electric RC as well.  I do electronics and Software ( large motor speed controls) all day to make a living.

Control line is a release from that.  

Control line and the the new part of the hobby scratches a different itch.  

Wow, a response which is not completely reactionary. I'm amazed.

I've gotten into micro-electric helis. Below is the fleet. 2 coaxials, 1 fixed pitch.
For those who call them toys, the close-up is of the servo linkages to the
swashplate, and the linkages to the rotor and flybar. Hardly a toy. And they
all have built-in gyros.





My next step probably is either a collective pitch heli, or the DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter
or something similar.

I don't get all the hate. Quad copters are flying models too. Instead, one sub-segment
of the hobby gets pitted against another. CL vs. RC. vs. quadcopters. It's really pointless
and...dumb. Quad copters are just a different skill set. No balsa, no dope. It's not
1955 anymore.

Real aviation has progressed.

From this




To this

[Randy Cuberly]

Wow, a response which is not completely reactionary. I'm amazed.

I've gotten into micro-electric helis. Below is the fleet. 2 coaxials, 1 fixed pitch.
For those who call them toys, the close-up is of the servo linkages to the
swashplate, and the linkages to the rotor and flybar. Hardly a toy. And they
all have built-in gyros.





My next step probably is either a collective pitch heli, or the DJI Phanthom 2 quadcopter
or something similar.

I don't get all the hate. Quad copters are flying models too. Instead, one sub-segment
of the hobby gets pitted against another. CL vs. RC. vs. quadcopters. It's really pointless
and...dumb. Quad copters are just a different skill set. No balsa, no dope. It's not
1955 anymore.

Real aviation has progressed.

From this




To this

It's not reactionary paranoia to be concerned about the danger involved in the technology that allows anyone to buy a device that can be flown out of sight at high speed to carry a machine gun or a bomb.  This is potential reality and if you think not you have your head buried in the sand and know nothing about what's currently going on in the world.

The most immediate danger to modeling is that the over wrought legislators will decide to simply ban all devices like this to include conventional R/C and Free Flight, and less likely but potentially possible, even Control Line.

I know I'm probably in a minority but I disagree that these things are "Model Aviation".  I view them as dangerous toys at the least and potentially dangerous weapons of mass destruction at the worst.

The potential that they can be flown well out of sight of the pilot and armed makes them a first strike weapon...not defensive like firearms, and because they are very small and fast they are likely to be extremely difficult if not impossible to detect before striking.  Obviously that's their military advantage but to drop things like that into the hands of potentially dangerous terrorists and criminals is downright insane.

I seriously feel that our overzealous legislators will think the same thing!

Randy Cuberly

[EJN]

Comparing this




To this is a stretch.






And is a model of a drone a drone or a model?

[Steven Kientz]

Its pretty easy to compare the quadcopter to the drone. Put some explosive material on the "quad", along with a fuse, detonator, timer and you have wmd.
Steve

[dave siegler]

Its pretty easy to compare the quadcopter to the drone. Put some explosive material on the "quad", along with a fuse, detonator, timer and you have wmd.
Steve

Nope, TV plots have been showing RC aircraft carrying bombs since the 1960's or 1970's.

What I think is funny, real funny is all the technology haters using these new fangled computers to talk about how bad technology is. 

I think a strongly worded letter written with a fountain pen top the newspaper is more in order.  Everyone reads that right?

Computers just like quad copters can be used for bad things.  Look how many cyber criminals. there are.  So turn off your computers.

even eaa is getting in this. Rather than ban them on the site, they find a way to do it responsibly. 

https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/2015-eaa-airventure-oshkosh/02-26-2015-aviation-gateway-park-brings-innovation-education-and-uavs-airventure



 

[Phil Krankowski]

Quadcopters are accessible high technology.  The capabilities are pretty amazing.

Yes computer are driving in these two videos.




Used responsibly as a camera platform these machines are just full of potential from many standpoints.  I haven't messed with them because I seem to break RC too quick...

Phil

[Garf]

The valid reason to fear these things is the real possibility of a certified a$$hole building something like the machine gun equipped unit and actually using it, like the one in the video. Believe me, there is no shortage of a$$holes out there.

[Dane Martin]

I don't mean to perpetuate any bad ideas on these things, but Ty, it's actually really easy to build one of those that can lift a beer keg from cheap parts from hobby king

[Gerald Arana]

The valid reason to fear these things is the real possibility of a certified a$$hole building something like the machine gun equipped unit and actually using it, like the one in the video. Believe me, there is no shortage of a$$holes out there.

Yes, and like opinions everybody has one! 


Jerry

[EJN]

When Garf revived that old thread about the drone crashing at the White House I was somewhat astounded by the addition to the thread of a Quad carrying a machine gun and destroying dummies etc.

...like the machine gun equipped unit and actually using it, like the one in the video.

You do realize the video posted in the other thread is fake, right?
It is part of a marketing campaign for a video game. The CGI is rather obvious.

http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-this-flying-submachine-gun-wreak-havoc-on-everything-from-mannequins-to-cars-2012-4

http://geekologie.com/2012/04/fps-russia-guy-with-fake-machine-gun-qua.php

[Randy Cuberly]

Well...So What!!!!
Fake or not the potential is still there because the technology is readily available to almost anyone with some money.

My original post her really had little to do with the fake video.  It had to do with technology that I personally witnessed that is readily available and could be used to deliver a bomb from far away or could be armed.  The stealth and remote out of sight control makes this a potential WMD.  

Yes the technology has been around for a while, but under military control that requires a lot of equipment and training to operate.  This stuff is readily available and could be flown by any R/C capable pilot and the equipment to do it can be carried in a small bag!

No it doesn't compare to a Predator drone...but then Criminals and 10 year olds don't have access to them either.

It is however going to take a major incident like the Boston bombing before most people wake up and smell the smoke!!

When that does happen...modeling is finished!

Randy Cuberly

[Mike Griffin]

These quadcopters are NOT going to go away and neither is the debate about how they will affect the flying model hobby and in particular, our part of the hobby which is Control Line flying.  I realize there are folks that fly both and even I have dabbled in the dark side by flying some RC Sailplanes (primarily because I could lay back in a chaise lounge and fly the thing).

First of all keep in mind that anything can be abused.  Case in point:  we have a really nice indoor shooting range here in New Orleans and a few years ago, some nut decided to commit suicide in there at the firing line.  I probably dont have to tell you what all the anti gun whackos proceeded to do after that but in the end, the shooting range is still there.

So lets just go ahead and admit the fact that these things can be potentially deadly say if some idiot decided to rig one up with explosives and fly the thing over the crowd at Disney World and crash it into the crowd and blow it up causing multiple casualties.  Impossible?  Hell no....it is very possible.

There are some pros to these things in the commercial aspect of aerial photography and a few others but the potential for nefarious purposes in the wrong hands, far outweigh the positives.

I have said for years that one day we would all be victims of our own technology and that day is here.  Not just in respect to our hobby but  a zillion other ways as well.  Just think what a terrorist or hacker can do with a PC or IMAC in todays world.  We have to live with all these possibilities and with sick minds such as ISIS and other just plain idiots that seem to be breeding like rats, I do not think it is a matter of IF, but WHEN , something really bad is going to happen using one of these things.

A group of baboons is called a Congress and with the baboons with have in Washington, both Democrats and Republicans, when something does eventually go down using one of these things, it is not going to matter  what the Hell your pleasure is in flying models, we are all going to be grouped together when they put the hammer down.

An 8 year old kid who plays video games can fly one of these quads so it does not take a lot of skill to put one up in the sky nor do you have to be an Einstein to rig one to hurt a lot of people.

Control Line is a whole different ball game.  Do lines break and do models fly away, sure every once in a while on a rare occasion.  I think I have seen that happen twice in my entire life and I have been building and flying control line models for 52 years.  I just cannot concieve of some guy walking out of the circle flying his stunter and walking to Disney World to do a figure 9 into the crowd.  We are more likely to hurt ourselves flying control line that anyone else.  But again, when the hammer comes down on flying models, we will not be distinguished from the pack despite all of our logic and begging.

Most all of this is based on GREED as is almost everything else in the world today.  Follow the money.    AMA and Model Aviation Magazine has become a whore to this stuff and there is big big money in it for them.  
I throw that rag in the waste basket as soon as it hits the mailbox.  I feel like I bend over every year when I pay my dues to AMA.  We have a club here in New Orleans and a charter with AMA and Our flying field is in a City Park.  Anybody can go fly there regardless of whether they are a member of AMA or not.  So I am a good soldier and pay my dues every year but any numnut with a model can come out there and fly and has never heard of AMA... they would probably think that was what the doctors belong to if you mention it to them.

I am sick of our freedoms being taken away by people who want to control my life and here is what I am going to do in relation to this subject.  I am going to fly my control line planes when I want and ride that mule till it dies.  I hope fixed wing RC hobbyist and helicopter pilots will do the same  because 99% of them who belong to clubs understand the danger these quadcopter can pose to their hobby or at least I hope they do.  These things are in a class by themselves and pose many more potential problems and dangers than what we have had at our disposal in the past.  I blame the money grabbers for most os this.  It is hard to distinguish Model Aviation Magazine for Hobby King anymore.

OK, I am done....

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

Randy, you posted while I was typing... great minds think alike I guess.. LOL.

Mike

[Randy Cuberly]

Nope, TV plots have been showing RC aircraft carrying bombs since the 1960's or 1970's.

What I think is funny, real funny is all the technology haters using these new fangled computers to talk about how bad technology is. 

I think a strongly worded letter written with a fountain pen top the newspaper is more in order.  Everyone reads that right?

Computers just like quad copters can be used for bad things.  Look how many cyber criminals. there are.  So turn off your computers.

even eaa is getting in this. Rather than ban them on the site, they find a way to do it responsibly. 

https://www.eaa.org/en/airventure/eaa-airventure-news-and-multimedia/eaa-airventure-news/2015-eaa-airventure-oshkosh/02-26-2015-aviation-gateway-park-brings-innovation-education-and-uavs-airventure

Dave,
I'm not sure who you are referring to when you blanket us all with "technology haters" but I do feel the urge to notify you that I started this thread out of concern and I'm not a "technology hater".  In fact I'm a retired aerospace engineer who has spent most of his life designing and building WMD's called missiles.

To the contrary, I love technology!  A lot of us on the forum are probably still alive because of better technology in computers and medicine.  I for one most definitely am!

What I hate is the element that insists on twisting that technology to destruction. 

Use for defensive purposes against the evil of the world is unfortunately a necessity.  Deliberately placing it in the hands of would be assasins and children for the sole purpose of making lots of money is not.

As usual I don't really have any real answers to the major problems involved here, but that doesn't mean I don't have the right to express concerns about them.  Ignoring them may be an even bigger problem.

Randy Cuberly

[Randy Cuberly]

Randy, you posted while I was typing... great minds think alike I guess.. LOL.

Mike

Hi Mike,
I prefer to consider it that "Good" Minds Think Alike!!   

Randy Cuberly

[Bill Johnson]

Comparing this.....

To this..........

is a stretch.

And is a model of a drone a drone or a model?

What I don't think some get is that there's no difference in the technology.

It's the people behind the controls and their intent that makes the difference. In the mid 1980s, I was in an Army MI unit flying R/C aircraft as a hobby. We used to watch the test flights of the new drones/pilots. They couldn't hit a 40' by 100' net on landing. A couple guys came to us and wanted to know if we wanted to transfer to a unit flying the same thing but larger for the Army. The rest is history.

Believe me, it's easy enough for someone to design and build a quadcopter or R/C plane to carry any payload weight they need and either direct control it to a target or program a flight controller to take it to a GPS coordinate. Doesn't matter to the aircraft if the payload is a camera or a high explosive. 

[john gunn]

If you are good enough a sling shot will bring them down.

[Motorman]

The worry here is not the unlawful use of the field, but the simple spread of this technology in a completely uncontrolled manner.
Randy Cuberly

You know, you might have something there.

MM

[Garf]

author=dave siegler link=topic=39300.msg402455#msg402455 date=1431427893]
Nope, TV plots have been showing RC aircraft carrying bombs since the 1960's or 1970's.
============================================================================

I remember an episode of Superman in the 50's. Super fakey, but it was a C speed model on a wire.

[Target]

I just re-entered control line from 20 years ago, because I'm reasonably certain that my love of flying RC sailplanes is doomed by the FPV folks that have no common sense or consideration for safety of others.
The AMA is trying to get the Multi-Rotor crowd to fly LOS, but since the majority of them likely arent AMA members, I don't think it can happen. Look at the quantity of people putting videos on YouTube of themselves involved in risky activities with these vehicle; they cannot help themselves!

If you don't know what the above acronyms mean, God bless you! Wish I didn't!

On a brighter note, I doubt that control line modeling will be effected, and its a lot cheaper than flying competition RC sailplanes. I'm planning on having a stable of C/L planes BEFORE RC sailplanes gets shut down by the FAA.

Regards,
Chris
PS. No, I don't wish to, nor will I, debate with you if you are "Pro" Quad Copter. Even if YOU are responsible, the shear mass of your Quad flying, irresponsible brothers has the rest of RC pretty much hosed, in my opinion. Its only a matter of time. They will ruin it for others, then move on to some other instant gratification activity. At least it won't be C/L....

[Randy Cuberly]

I just re-entered control line from 20 years ago, because I'm reasonably certain that my love of flying RC sailplanes is doomed by the FPV folks that have no common sense or consideration for safety of others.
The AMA is trying to get the Multi-Rotor crowd to fly LOS, but since the majority of them likely arent AMA members, I don't think it can happen. Look at the quantity of people putting videos on YouTube of themselves involved in risky activities with these vehicle; they cannot help themselves!

If you don't know what the above acronyms mean, God bless you! Wish I didn't!

On a brighter note, I doubt that control line modeling will be effected, and its a lot cheaper than flying competition RC sailplanes. I'm planning on having a stable of C/L planes BEFORE RC sailplanes gets shut down by the FAA.

Regards,
Chris
PS. No, I don't wish to, nor will I, debate with you if you are "Pro" Quad Copter. Even if YOU are responsible, the shear mass of your Quad flying, irresponsible brothers has the rest of RC pretty much hosed, in my opinion. Its only a matter of time. They will ruin it for others, then move on to some other instant gratification activity. At least it won't be C/L....

Hi Chris,
Welcome back to Control Line.  You'll find a wealth of info here on this forum.  Ask questions about any facit of CL and you can expect some good answers here.   Some of the very best builders and fliers frequent this forum, including past and present National Champions and World champions, and are always willing to help.

I too used to fly R/C gliders and enjoyed it for many years.  I never reached the top levels of competition but was fairly serious about it for several years.  It is fun and like you, I lament it's potential destruction.

Again Welcome!
Randy Cuberly

[dave siegler]

Dave,
I'm not sure who you are referring to when you blanket us all with "technology haters" but I do feel the urge to notify you that I started this thread out of concern and I'm not a "technology hater".  In fact I'm a retired aerospace engineer who has spent most of his life designing and building WMD's called missiles.

To the contrary, I love technology!  A lot of us on the forum are probably still alive because of better technology in computers and medicine.  I for one most definitely am!

What I hate is the element that insists on twisting that technology to destruction.  

Use for defensive purposes against the evil of the world is unfortunately a necessity.  Deliberately placing it in the hands of would be assasins and children for the sole purpose of making lots of money is not.

As usual I don't really have any real answers to the major problems involved here, but that doesn't mean I don't have the right to express concerns about them.  Ignoring them may be an even bigger problem.

Randy Cuberly

The tech hater comment was not pointed at you.  If anything thing your views have been very balanced.  

Operators of quad copters have been shown to use less than good judgment.  But go back into the 1960.  The whine of cox engines could be heard everywhere and users were flying in a lot of places where and when they should not.  I was guilty of that.  The kids with the COX toys quit or grew into responsible modellers.  

At our field, we have to be very aware of park users and Frisbee golfers walking into the pits, or even the flying circle while flying , stepping over barriers and past cones.  Control line has its own issues.  It isn't free of danger.  I can fly my electric RC airplanes AWAY from trouble that I see, but cant of that with control line.    

In most cases of disruptive technology, the most successful path is embrace the new tech, and encourage good judgement for operators/ participants.  Sooner or later the fad will wear off, and hopefully only the good actors will be left.  There are many examples in aviation (ultra lights,hang gliders, home built) and other areas ( snowmobile clubs, gun clubs, ham radio).  Self governance works better than regulation.

FPV is popular because it is.  It isn't some plan by rich hobby distributors.  They don't care what sells, only that it sells.  If control liners spent more money, this would not be a problem.

There is a lot more interest FPV and it often leads into building, repairing and modifying the off the shelf ones.   And that learning is pretty neat.  The skills are different, but there still is a learning curve, and casual users will give up quickly.  

[RknRusty]

My club field at Fort Jackson is always interesting. We always fly to the constant backdrop sounds of machine guns and grenades. One day there was an Apache on the field when I arrived. Two weeks ago we had a plane in the air and a Chinook looked like it was going to land on us, flying with only its rotors above the treetops. And just last week we looked up and saw one of these. A Real one. Saw it, but could not hear it.

[Target]

Thanks for the greetings, Randy.
I'm happy with the general welcoming I have received here.
I'm going to like it a lot I think!

Regards,
Chris

[Chris McMillin]

Most helicopter and quad copter guys are not very disciplined and don't often take into account that there are rules and traffic patterns for the flying field. When they start flying all over the place and hover in the way of the runway it makes for the group to be labeled.
There are good guys that fly them, though.  I personally don't care for them because they're like most Old Time models, ugly.
If one wants to think about drones and their capabilities consider that the Navy and Air Force just install r/c stuff in fighters and use those, have for 70 years. In 1945 F6Fs by the dozens were converted, Ryan built brand new copies of V-1s, F-86s, F-4s later, these have plenty of speed, weight and can carry a lot of stuff. The newer systems are just more efficient, and the latest systems are downright scary, like the X-47 drone carrier qualifyed drone. This is the problem with having the crossover of terminology and capability when expecting the government and general pulic to make a distinction between models and drones.
Chris...

[john e. holliday]

My club field at Fort Jackson is always interesting. We always fly to the constant backdrop sounds of machine guns and grenades. One day there was an Apache on the field when I arrived. Two weeks ago we had a plane in the air and a Chinook looked like it was going to land on us, flying with only its rotors above the treetops. And just last week we looked up and saw one of these. A Real one. Saw it, but could not hear it.

 

Bet who ever is in control could do some serious damage.  It is scary looking.    Glad it is on our side.

[Mike Griffin]

My sister in law gave my brother a quad copter for Christmas.  He has never flown anything other than a paper airplane and he can fly the thing.  It requires little if any skill to fly one of these things.

Mike

[Target]

Speaking of remote systems and drones...
Guess who works at "Seaborne Targets" in Port Hueneme??
Bet you can't guess.

I tow out remoted boats and other surface targets for the latest weapons systems to test with. And tow back in whatever is left. Your tax money at work...

Anyway, as I stated above, for us RC glider guiders, I assume that its only a matter of time before we are DONE. And its going to be 99% due to the multi-rotor pilots. Not the responsible ones, but all the other ones, specifically the irresponsible ones, posting eyebrow raising video on YouTube and Vimeo.
Its likely that guys like Chris that fly RC power might still be able to do so, but the likely altitude restriction that is coming will put Thermal Duration sailplane flyers into the extinct dinosaur category...

At least I will still maybe be able to fly DLG's and of course, control line. (I think).

Kind Regards

[Bill Johnson]

 

Bet who ever is in control could do some serious damage.  It is scary looking.    Glad it is on our side.

MQ-9 Reaper with 2 Paveway 2s and 4 Hellfires. Hellfires defeat ALL know armour. The Paveway 2 put a 500# warhead within about 4 feet of whatever it's aimed at.

Ya, you don't want one of these after you!

[Derek Barry]

You guys need to calm down, I took these with my new quad today. CL circles at the Joe Nall.

Evil people will do evil things, there is nothing we can do about that. Except maybe rig our own quads to soot down theirs. Lol 😂😂😂

Derek

[Brett Buck]

Evil people will do evil things, there is nothing we can do about that.

   The hell with that, I say, outlaw evil today! If there are any clarifications on what constitutes evil required, I am always available and willing to assume any dictatorial powers necessary.

    Brett

[Derek Barry]

   The hell with that, I say, outlaw evil today! If there are any clarifications on what constitutes evil required, I am always available and willing to assume any dictatorial powers necessary.

    Brett

I am sure outlawing it would solve the problem. It works so well on everything else...

You will need to talk to the man in the whitehouse about handing over the dictatorship...

Derek

[RknRusty]

Nice wholesome use of your Quad, Derek.
A beautiful light breeze is going to be blowing over those circles in the perfect direction Saturday morning.  

I packed my gear at 3:00 this afternoon. I'm calm!!
Rusty

[Doug Moon]

Here is a pic of Derek's new little freind.

[Brett Buck]

I am sure outlawing it would solve the problem. It works so well on everything else...

You will need to talk to the man in the whitehouse about handing over the dictatorship...

   It's not a dictatorship, how dare you suggest such a thing! "If Congress won't Act, I will"(tm) is just a way to implement one individual's policy agenda without resorting to the messy and difficult process of convincing anyone else and ignoring the Constitution, any contrary opinions, or binding votes. As is handing over regulatory authority to unelected officials with no accountability to the governed or their elected representatives. COMPLETELY different from a dictatorship or oligarchy.

  Every problem in this country is caused by the "Do-nothing reactionary Reichstag^H^H^H^H^H^H Congress", we need a strong leader to overcome this anti-Progress types who are in bed with the Fat Cats Wall Street 1%ers.

    Brett

  

[George Hostler]

My club field at Fort Jackson is always interesting. We always fly to the constant backdrop sounds of machine guns and grenades. One day there was an Apache on the field when I arrived. Two weeks ago we had a plane in the air and a Chinook looked like it was going to land on us, flying with only its rotors above the treetops. And just last week we looked up and saw one of these. A Real one. Saw it, but could not hear it.

They have a lower noise signature than other aircraft, sounds like light plane, i.e., Cessna. Occasionally I'll see one over flying our house in Clovis NM, must be either in going or out coming from Cannon AFB.

[Sean McEntee]

I know allot of people that are commenting on this thread own guns...


The argument to ban/regulate/control the use of these things are in contradictory to your desire to NOT ban/regulate/controle gun and ammo purchase.

The two are EXACTLY alike:  They are inanimate objects.  They can do harm when in the hands of inexperienced, untrained, or ill-willed people.  They can also do allot of good when used appropriately.  

There is one difference.  Every single stunt flyer who LOVES electric power PROBABLY would still be running IC engines right now if it wasnt for the RC industry.  Scale flyers would undoubatly not be able to use the sleek new 2.5.Ghz radios in their models if it werent for the RC industry.  There are several products that have come from the RC world that have been adapted an used for CL.

I wouldnt be so fast to use the term "paranoid", but maybe "excessively pesumistic" .  Of course "people" are stupid.  Of course people are going to misuse and abuse the technology.  But its back to the quad=guns argument.  Throwing rules and regulations at the problem wont solve anything; that will only burden responsible operators.  And oh yeah, i doubt any type of legal sanction would ONLY apply to RC stuff.

However anyone who is TRUELY afraid of machine gun-wielding robotic airplanes decending from the sky and shooting up your house then I recommend a nice, lead-lined underground bunker with all the annemities of home....

[Target]

That would be 2.4Ghz...
;-)