ORIGINAL: nibbler125
[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvcN-0PikEU[/link]
Sorry to stir the FAA pot but this video caught my attention. In the video a low flying large scale 3D plane was hovering just off the ground and a low flying biplane struck it causing minor damage to one of the wings but landed safely and now the FAA is investigating it. As far as I know of this is the only reported case of a model aircraft striking a fullsized aircraft. Even though this is clearly the fault of the biplane im pretty sure the FAA is going to point the finger at the model. In my mind the video should have been deleted and the damage on the plane blamed on a birdstrike. In the comments the guy flying the byplane said he attempted to make an aborted landing and struck the model. Im not sure if that is true or not.
Not the only case...just the most famous one of the moment. A .40 size glow model hit one of the Goodyear blimps, on purpose, in CA, about 15 years back. did tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Also, several collisions have occured between slope soaring R/C gliders and a full scale sailplane and a couple of hang gliders, , 2 in CA and one in UT. There was evidence of a collison between an R/C model and a smaller Cessna in College Station, TX about 8 years back reported on a aviation news site.
The worst known case was in Germany, a few years back. A large gas powered R/C glider tug collided with a Grop G109 motor sailplane and caused the Grob to crash, killing a father and daughter, as I recall.
The Colorado midair you discussedmhas been investigated by the NTSB and the preliminary findings have long been posted on the NTSB web site.
I agree with the previous poster that this should never be lied about. Besides being unethical, there were tons of spectators and the incident had to be reported to the FAA, per regulation. Trying to sweep it under the rug woudl have been counterproductive.
And you hve the detaisl wrong about the landing...do a search and you will find information closer to the truth.