Drone

still from some of my test flights yesterday...

IMAGE LINK: http://s938.photobucke​t.com …/ufo_zps403ab35​d.jpg.html

cool but one question, aren't these illegal according to the FAA?

Nice shot, love it. Would like to get one to play with but....$$$ be short

Very cool photo.

Wouldn't the drone be better if the legs were longer and the camera was mounted underneath, though?

96whiteknight wrote in post #17064455
Very cool photo.

Wouldn't the drone be better if the legs were longer and the camera was mounted underneath, though?

I wondered about that, too. Maybe a side shot would help to clarify how far down it will aim.

reole wrote in post #17064359
cool but one question, aren't these illegal according to the FAA?

I think that is all up in the air right now. The case I have read about have all been rejected or overturned by the courts. I think as long as you follow RC Aircraft guidelines and obey no fly/ secure areas nothing will happen. I am also under the impression that you can't use for commercial gains but that definition is blurry right now.

As far as the model aircraft is concerned looks like you have a pretty killer craft there. I do also wonder about the camera on top though.

96whiteknight wrote in post #17064455
Very cool photo.

Wouldn't the drone be better if the legs were longer and the camera was mounted underneath, though?

This is the first thing I thought... Made me believe this is a DIY drone and not a commercial one.

There are 2 classes of drone & the FAA is concentrating it's efforts (from my reading of different forums) on getting laws passed that weren't in place before but the FAA felt were simply because they are supposed to regulate what flies over US soil. Some good reading on the current situation is here

http://www.rcgroups.co​m …/showthread.php​?t=2192501

One form of drone is used for photography & right now isn't the main target, but the other form is flown by seeing the view the on board camera sends back to the pilot. (First Person View AKA FPV). This is the one that gets flown past / or out of the Line Of Sight that the FAA is insisting must be flown LOS only, so if you can't see it from the point your are standing or sitting you're breaking the law. You can't fly wearing the goggles many pilots have been using (they display what the camera sees plus the heads up display of your heading, altitude / speed etc) which is really what pilots are VERY unhappy with. Canadian rules have been adapted into law & we allow the goggles BUT any pilot operating that way MUST have a spotter & MUST still fly LOS at all times. Unfortunately enforcement of the rules is up to the operator in most cases and very few follow them or even know they exist because they didn't need to learn how to fly an R/C aircraft in the usual way thanks to the on board electronics that can fly the thing themselves if programmed properly. I suspect very few operators have insurance when flying them too.

Here is the Advisory Circular the FAA is trying to use (in part) to regulate drones:
http://www.faa.gov …visory_circular​/91-57.pdf

reole wrote in post #17064359
cool but one question, aren't these illegal according to the FAA?

No, they are not illegal according to the FAA, but they may be used illegally.

cicopo wrote in post #17066533
There are 2 classes of drone & the FAA is concentrating it's efforts (from my reading of different forums) on getting laws passed that weren't in place before but the FAA felt were simply because they are supposed to regulate what flies over US soil. Some good reading on the current situation is here

http://www.rcgroups.co​m …/showthread.php​?t=2192501

One form of drone is used for photography & right now isn't the main target, but the other form is flown by seeing the view the on board camera sends back to the pilot. (First Person View AKA FPV). This is the one that gets flown past / or out of the Line Of Sight that the FAA is insisting must be flown LOS only, so if you can't see it from the point your are standing or sitting you're breaking the law. You can't fly wearing the goggles many pilots have been using (they display what the camera sees plus the heads up display of your heading, altitude / speed etc) which is really what pilots are VERY unhappy with. Canadian rules have been adapted into law & we allow the goggles BUT any pilot operating that way MUST have a spotter & MUST still fly LOS at all times. Unfortunately enforcement of the rules is up to the operator in most cases and very few follow them or even know they exist because they didn't need to learn how to fly an R/C aircraft in the usual way thanks to the on board electronics that can fly the thing themselves if programmed properly. I suspect very few operators have insurance when flying them too.

This is very interesting at the moment. As an RC hobbiest, I don't have any issues with RC aircraft, but as a pilot, it worries me that some drones are being flow at altitude that could interfere with manned aircraft. I have a Parrot AR Drone and have a lot of fun flying it in parks and in my neighborhood, but am careful to stay away from airports. The AR Done is also limited to 100m which is lower than most aircraft fly (except for landing phases).

I believe that both Canada & the US have set a 400 foot limit on how high they can be flown BUT with camera shops, electronics shops & all sorts of on line stores selling the new "ready to fly" versions to whoever has the money one can assume most buyers have no idea of that regulation or any others governing their safe use. Most buyers probably don't know what AMA or MAAC stands for, or that those organizations insure their members while flying R/C aircraft "According to the established guidelines" they've set out. If you ignore the guidelines you are not insured.

Just curious who would enforce that law. Not local PD for sure.

Dave3222 wrote in post #17067087
Just curious who would enforce that law. Not local PD for sure.

That's the question that may never be answered short of an outright flying ban. The honor system isn't working so far.

Here's a new post at one of the R/C forums I belong to. Just bought it, never flew one before but thinks it's safe to fly around the neighborhood.

http://www.rccanada.ca …php?p=1792513#p​ost1792513

sport flight

IMAGE LINK: http://s938.photobucke​t.com …/ufo_zps403ab35​d.jpg.html

IMAGE LINK: http://s938.photobucke​t.com …ings_zps0e23ced​8.jpg.html

Dave3222 wrote in post #17067087
Just curious who would enforce that law. Not local PD for sure.

Often local PD tell people it is illegal to photograph buildings, people etc - don't be shocked when they enforce whatever they feel like at the time.