Dragging Dave Brown and Maynard Hill into THIS thread is really out of line, PERIOD, and here's why. The "implication" is that the record attempts Hill and Brown accomplished, whether for the trans oceanic flight, record altitude etc, were done in a "reckless" manner with no reguard to the publics safety. Comparing their accomplishments to "showboating" at a fly in at over active FS runway is a perfect example of "apples to oranges". I read the original account of the ocean crossing record attempt, and there was a lot of planning and assurances that the attempt would in fact be safe.

In 1963 when Hill set an altitude record of 13,328 feet, he had the help AND PLANNING of many learned individuals AND organizations. It was the US Navy that provided the anti-aircraft gun fitted with high power binoculars for Maynard to track his plane during the altitude record setting flight, and I think it was Pro Line who highly modified the transmitter to extend its range. And it was flown at a Naval base if my memory serves me correctly. You don't get that kind of help doing something to "showboat" your talents. The "mods" to the TX alone violated the FCC rules about power output but the FCC gave a waiver for the attempt.

These and other statements on these threads are what make them "useless" if "facts" aren't presented. These are the "things" people that have been in the hobby for a long time know about having lived through them. "Things" that some are using to support their views on a current problem, that in reality have NOTHING in common.