SMALLFLY-

My Feedback: (19)

Thanks guys. It will do no good whatsoever talking to people like that at fox news because they only care about scaring people to improve ratings. But it is good to let them know there are people that will challenge them

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

....at least the gentleman at Fox had a clue about r/c
and wasn't just some dummy....picking out a topic,
and sensationalizing it just for the sake of a story.

Remember the story awhile back....how the "terrorists"
intercepted a bunch of small electric powered planes
that were supposed to go to the kids....

....and claimed they were gonna rig them up with some
explosives ? Well, we all know as modelers, that you
might be able to squeeze a cherry bomb or two in there,
and perhaps fly it a half mile or so. Big Whoop !!!

Planting the seed of fear, much less creating actual
terror....is part of their game. They might win a game or
two, but I doubt they'll win any sets....or the Match....
at least not in the USA.

Dave.

JoeMamma

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something, something I can use
People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry

Well, I could've been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear, give us dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around

We got the bubbleheaded bleach-blonde, comes on at 5
She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye
It's interesting when people die, give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?
You know the boys in the newsroom got a running bet
Get the widow on the set, we need dirty laundry

You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough alone, keep your dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around

Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing
When it's said and done, we haven't told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry

(Don Henely tune).........'nuff said.....

robert

Justifying all sorts of millitary going ons....if you catch my drift. I am pretty sure that Ken from Fox had his mind made up before he researched (if he even did) the story.
The problem lies with all the other people out there, that don't fly planes. Before you know it, the police will get a call from Mr and Mrs X who are not happy with those death machines flying so close to her sons football pitch (about 5 miles away). That is where the real problem lies IMO. I would seriously consider talking to fox again, requesting that they basically say that they were wrong, and give the facts, such as all that Micheal said, and the lack of payload, and the fact that it is simply impracticle.
What do you all think.

BasinBum

My Feedback: (2)

I'd say broadcast news is not as interested in balanced truthful stories as they are in ratings which tend to go higher with sensational stories.

I also feel that stories about things like this are given extra life in forums on the Internet like this one. We are giving reporters, that don't have a background in RC and only get enough information to create a story that their producer will air, more fodder.

I agree with Dave Brown's article of a few months ago when he suggested we let these things die a natural death and don't procreate them on the Internet.

nukes

I would let the issue drop, if fox news thinks they have upset the RC community then it might peek their intrest in the story. If you leave it alone then it will be forgotten. These people love controversy and by showing them we are upset by the story, that is exactly what they are getting.

cdsmith

I agree with Nukes' post. JUST LEAVE IT BE.

If Fox news were to do another story, it may just give some idiot the inclanation to actually try something.

Better yet the guy that lives next to my field may see the episode and decide that our models are "not so harmless"

NUFF SAID!

scottrc

But the damage has been done! While at an RC demonstration to the public last week, a majority of the questions were about speed, danger to children, and how many bombs can my plane carry. These questions were from adults! Now I know where they are getting these concerns from.

The public got them from the media, now what are we to do? Nothing? Do I need to be on the defense every time I'm at a mall show or demonstration? I think we need RC pro activists in the media, we need to be on Fox. RC planes are being seen as weapons, and are misunderstood because they are unique. Unfortunately, we are coming under scrutiny and may have be on the defense.

This kind of media is giving developers and the noise nazis even more ammo to close flying fields.

I really hate to see us having to protect our rights. I really don't want the AMA to have to be like the NRA. But thanks to our media, it may happen.

I commend Mark on his stance to Fox and think Dave Brown should also be screaming at the media for using our hobby as a hype gimmick to boost ratings.

Sport_Pilot

I agree. While we are at it lets ask Fox why they didn't do a report on how easy it is to rent a large truck. If I were a terrorist I would be looking for a large truck to rent, not an itty bitty model plane. Even our large planes busting the 55 pound rule won't do much damage, compared to a large truck.

Sport_Pilot

Sorry I didn't read the entire thread before posting. I see Marc made the same point. However I do have one small disagreement with Marc.

Marc said.

Yes, GPS can be use to remotely pilot a vehicle. But that's not our hobby.

Actually he probably should have said that GPS systems are not popular but very rare. They are used with R/C plans only for breaking long distance records, and college tech competitions.

I don't think we should offer autonomous model aircraft up for as a sacrificial lamb, just because we do not currently enjoy flying them.

ajvpb

My Feedback: (3)

I like sport pilots point. We all know what a truck did at oklahoma city, all the ingredients in the bomb available to purchase anywhere. I think it would be alot easier to do what Tim Mcveigh did than buy an R/C plane, learn to fly it etc. This also attacks the fox guys point of the terrorist still living. Like the people that asked scottrc about the bombs his plane could carry, its ignorance about R/C planes or pure stupidity that is the problem. Anyone that just watches tv and automatically dubs model planes as hazards to them without sitting back and really looking at it really doesn't have a clue.