Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins
There are a lot of things you can't see, Normy. You've demonstrated that rather convincingly.
The follow up posts after mine form guys who know what they are talking about are spot on, Vash. R/C model airplanes can be anything from your lightweight little slope soarer to 40 pound, 150 mph behemoths. Losing control of one of these is no joke. People can die.
As inexpensive as legal radios are these days, if you really want to animate your turkey, there is no reason you cannot do so (outside of game laws, anyway). Fifty bucks will buy all the radio you need.
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RC Airplanes have an element of danger to them but it is fairly easily manageable by following proper safety protocols. Those protocols are defined pretty well by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (
Academy of Model Aeronautics). Personally, I have always felt that the FCC should require a basic license for the use of 72/75mhz radio gear. Not as extreme as the Ham radio bands but something basic that would encourage a knowledge of what exactly you were doing with this radio gear. When I was younger I was instructed by an old school radio technician on the use of an oscilloscope and repairing the gear but I've since lost that knowledge. He had to be licensed to do the repairs I believe.
The 2.4 Ghz stuff is pretty darned amazing and we modelers don't have to worry so much about frequencies anymore. I have converted over to 2.4Ghz completely but still have some 72Mhz gear (what to do with it...).
Model aircraft defined by the AMA are 55 lbs or lighter but they can get a weight waiver. I've seen 1/2 scale Extra 300s at the basin. Yes, I said 1/2 scale. An Extra is not a big plane but a 1/2 scale model of an Extra is a BIG plane. It was awesome. I've seen turbine powered jets go over 200 mph (governed - they can go faster easily).
This is more than you need to worry about really - just don't turn that radio on if you aren't sure that there isn't anyone flying around there.