Model Aviation Article
Steven,
It may not be exactly teetering on the edge, but the more negative publicity that is lobbed at us (whether perceived or real) is definately not helping our case. Given the acitons last Sept., and how movies/tv portray rc as means to destroy things (the rc car chase in the clint eastwood movie, remote detonators for just about every terrorist tv show or movie), people perceive that there is a larger threat via just about any means possible. Throw in more noise complaints from neigbors near fields and larger aircraft being flown around, closer in and teetering on the edge of control (I'll admit to being one of the 3d people, so I'm not throwing stones in a glass house). The sport/hobby got national publicity because of the unfortunate accident in AZ where the gentleman was struck by his own plane and killed last month. Unforunately, it was mostly negative publicicty. Insurance renewal has become harder and more expensive to get/maintain, more and costlier claims are being made against the insurance (which isnt going to make it any easier or cheaper to get next go around).
He made mention to the magazines printing articles about planes being flown on autopilot and GPS. There was an article in MAN about a Kadet Senior that flew 26 miles unassisted from one field to another and back in Sarasota, FL. The only time a pilot had control was on takeoff and landing. The author stated what parts/costs/ and assembly techniques he used to pull this off. It was all up under $1000.00 (including the GPS, plane, radio, etc.)
I found that article totally fascinating and cool at that time, and still marvel at the brainpower and nads it took to pull it off. But, given how easily it is to have access to the information and equipment, it would not suprise me if someone is going to try to use a version of that for some form of evil-doing.
There will always be people in society who can take the most innocent of concepts or ideas, and pervert them into bad things. Unfortunately, that is part of human nature. Look at the web, it was created as a means to exchange educational information. Whats the % of valid content vs porn/hate/spam etc? Hotmail, while being a great free way to send and recvieve emails, was *******ized into a method for terrorists to communicate anonymously.
On Junkyard Wars last nite on TLC, they had a contest where they took two teams, gave them each a multi channel radio, and had them build full size r/c cars for a demolition derby. It would be very easy for someone to take that 1 hour long show, and *******ize that.
I'm not trying to be Chicken Little and say "the sky is falling, the sky is falling", but you do not have to be the greatest genius in the world to have access to the information, technology and hardware to do something like that. The gov't has to look at everything that is a credible threat, and our hobby, when taken to that extreme is a very credible threat. Obviously if it wasnt, our military wouldnt be developing and deploying as many RPV's as it is.
Just my $.02 (actually $.04, but I got it on sale)
Steve