David Gladwin

I see someone is flying a1.24 model (.) weighing 220 pounds, with 120 pounds of thrust (JetCat 550, an industrial engine) .
I do wonder where all this will stop and the regulators, FAA, CAA, EASA etc step in and start regulating our activities.
(Professional airframe inspection, formal pilot training, restricted operating areas, etc.)
I understand in the USA the EAA are assisting the AMA in negotiations with the FAA to try and limit regulations which might restrict model flying.

……..and why can’ t flight safety be discussed on RCU, BVM has an excellent safety chapter, he knew the score, bring , like myself a former military aviator, but here, almost nothing.

rgburrill

Don't you know regulating our fun is bad? Hobby manufactures providing engines and airframes to support this nonsense don't help. And neither does AMA giving exceptions to the rules (55 lbs) they already have.

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

What exactly is the problem with the "exception" of the 55lb rule? They have guidelines in place for people to follow that don't make it an 'exception", its a formal, written rule.

highhorse

My Feedback: (2)

What does ‘former military aviator’ have to do with anything? Nothing.

That aside, I do agree that it only takes a handful of irresponsible fools to ruin things for everyone. When people do stupid things, rules get made that the rest of us who never did any harm have to abide by. Drones anyone?

Zeeb

My Feedback: (41)

Well I think that regs are going to get more complicated. There are several businesses including Walmart, CVS, a local hospital chain, who are initiating drone delivery services in my area. They are pretty good sized drones capable of delivering 10lb. loads.

David Gladwin

You obviously do not get reality. In military aviation we had to do dangerous things, nature of the job, we had to get them done with the highest degree of safety. We had a VERY high degree of safety training and understanding., You have obviously no knowledge or understanding of that.

I learned the real meaning of flight safety at an early stage in my carer. In 1963 my instructor and I ejected from a jet at 14,700 feet. When my chute opened at 10,000 feet it was damaged, I fell 10,000 feet in a damaged chute, expecting it to candle at any moment. Not a fun time.
Although we ejected in a remote area, the jet eventually crashed in an isolated farmyard, spraying a ton of jet fuel where kids had been playing a few minutes before. Mercifully, there was no fire and no one on the ground was hurt.
In my 12 years in the RAF I lost 9 colleagues, 4 one morning, including my navigator, killed flying with another pilot in a Canberra whilst I was on leave. Please dont tell me military flying experience has no relevance in flight safety, some of which, particularly a safety culture, can be transferred across to the operation of high performance model jets.

jetjon

All that hoopla about yourself....STILL has nothing to do w/ model aviation! Jet pilots are the safest flyers in ALL of model aviation......one lone incident does not indict the entire bunch.........I believe we police ourselves as well as possible! You OBVIOUSLY are trying to stir the pot!

Halcyon66

David you are either listing every RC model you have ever had or outlining your CV in the majority of your posts. Not many care.

Models are going to keep getting bigger and that is a fact. Now as in other threads RC models go in, outcome is potentially a bigger mess. You were last complaining about the "Greatest roll Muppet" as you called him. Humans crash everything it is in our DNA.

I build large models and have for years, I don't post a lot of what I do and have always had private sites to fly. Why because there will always be someone that chimes in with expert knowledge that has been flying a foamy for 2 yrs. The biggest issue with off the shelf RC models is the weight limit, one should build to a specification rather than a weight. So airframes are getting bigger, yet also lighter which is not a good combination. Add to that the race to the bottom in pricing.

Now big models mean even bigger $$$ and moving up to massive servos and redundant systems, why because of the simple dollar outlay. And because of that you normally have a high end builders and pilots. Modelers don't just go out and build a 1/2 scale monster as their first scratch build???

Tomahawk, XXL L39, XXL Hawk, Paritech XXL Alphajet and Airworld MB-339, F-104 are some of the biggest off the shelf models around. Mibo also has the big A-10. They all have been extensively designed and have had little issues over the years.

I think from memory you had no issues with the huge Concorde coming in at more than 150kg? Oh I forgot it was using a Core, nothing to see here.

Regards,

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

I'll bite, who said flight safety can't be discussed on RCU?

Zeeb

My Feedback: (41)

guess what you can kiss?????

You have never dealt with the FAA, as a commercially licensed multi engine pilot and a licensed A&P full scale mechanic, you have no idea of what you are going up against........

Dansy

My Feedback: (53)

It just occurred to me either your jealous or you lack the skill….either way RC Jet are tons safer in what ever size then any foamie….beginner type…that think they fly all by themself.

jetjon

I was a 4 time NATS judge at Muncie IN for control line...one of the things I'll never forget is becoming friends w/ British CL flyers. They ACTUALLY had to pay and apply for 4 things to fly a string controlled model airplane! 1. permit to use an IC engine. 2. A permit to own the fuel for said model. 3. A permit to use a model airplane field. 4. A permit to use a " noisecontrolled" implement......AKA mufflers required

What part of INSANITY do you get from this?....

HarryC

My Feedback: (1)

They were obviously having fun by seeing how big a lie they could make you believe because not a word of that is true.

Halcyon66

Along with that huge lie about having to get a license to have a TV in the UK??????

https://www.gov.uk/tv-licence

Regards,

David Gladwin

Two simple questions and this rubbish is the result. I despair !

HarryC

My Feedback: (1)

W t f? No-one said that was a lie. Straw man argument is pathetic.

Halcyon66

David, the only rubbish was the first post in this thread.

I know a lot of guys that have served since the late 80's in multiple theaters, they never say a word unless you draw it out of them. They have my upmost respect and they deserve so much more than they have gotten over the years for their service. Humble is the word that comes to mind.

You seem to drop the military side every chance you get on a RC model forum, seriously? Have you ever operated in a hotspot or did you just leave the mil side to become a glorified uber driver who them moved to flogging 50 quid joy flights on the Concorde?

Go back to regulating the tea bags you use at your local RC club.

paulhat

Nasty words there. Not needed at all.

euan galloway

David ,
Is this model being flown in the Uk ? If so the model and its operator will have passed all requirements currently in place through the relevant LMA scheme . I agree the models are getting bigger and more expensive but this must be market driven and I am constantly amazed at the technology and quality the leading manufacturers produce .I watched our JMA chairperson flying his large scale Su 30
? and bigger models certainly appear to fly and present better than my 45 size jets .
cheers Euan .

David Gladwin

Euan,
I think it is being flown in Germany. I am well aware of the LMA scheme in the UK.
However, I think the point I raised did not register with our American and Australian friends, it was, this : with the exponential growth in these models, weight, thrust and therefore fuel capacity I wonder at what point might the regulators call a halt. I KNOW our activities are being watched.
They are no longer” just model aircraft” they are missiles with very considerable energy. Remember the drone issue and the regulations which followed .
I think it an entirely reasonable question to ask in a changing world, totally undeserving of some of the replies posted above.

Hustler58

My Feedback: (1)

David If your wife won't let you talk in the house, go to the woods and scream. Because I don't think anyone here is listening!

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

Maybe you should of started off with the question like this one.
Singling out an individual, even indirectly, really didn't start the thread off well and the initial post was more of a thought than a question. It's no surprise it devolved into what it has become.

Ron S

My Feedback: (2)

Hi David,

In your initial post, I wasn't sure what this meant --> "I see someone is flying a1.24 model (.) weighing..."

In the US, assuming you're flying as a member of AMA, we have LTMA-1 and LTMA-2 permits the pilot can get, to fly in jet model weight classes of 55 to 77 lbs, and 77 to 100 lbs respectively. (ready to fly weights) I've been an AMA LMA signoff inspector for probably a decade. So in the US, we do have regulations in place - of course, no regulation will be perfect, and they'll never make everyone happy.

I admit I'm a bit ignorant on the UK or European rules regarding large model signoff procedures. I did check the BMFA website, but couldn't find anything regarding this. I also did a quick google search regarding the same for models in Europe, but also came up short. Can you or anyone else point me, where to look (for the UK or Europe rules)?

One thing is for sure... The model you speak of won't be flying in the Jet World Masters any time soon (20 kg dry weight limit)

Halcyon66

https://www.caa.co.uk/consumers/remo...odel-aircraft/

https://emfu.eu/

https://www.easa.europa.eu/the-agency/faqs/model-aircraft

https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP722F%20Edition%201%2011Aug2021.pdf

Regards,

Boomerang1

Because of the drone menace most country's aviation authorities have had a good hard look at who is flying what & how.

Rather than blanket the introduction of draconian rules by the general authorities for aviation (FAA,CASA, CAA etc.) most
national bodies for model aircraft have pleaded the case for self regulation. Part of this responsibility has resulted in more
rules & tightening of procedures. Like it or not, that's the way it's going to be moving forward.

I was reminded of this by the Australian MAAA's new requirement that certified instructors will now require re-certification
at certain intervals. All part of the proof that we can self manage. It remains to be seen how willing these national bodies
are willing to stick their necks out to maintain self regulation for average Joe modellers who most of their members are.

Big fireballs resulting from over ambitious manoeuvres at public events plastered all over social media won't help the jet
flyers arguments one bit.