Hi ya'll.
Seems I have been called back?
Question asked> what is autonomous fl;ight? As understood that would be
a craft in flight controlled by an onboard system to fly in a specific manner.
This could be also controlled by R/C and/or other means.
Autonomous does not specify the type or style of the control.
Thus any sort of control system could be used autonomously.
The system could be electroic, mechaical, radio or any other method
which dictates the path the craft will follow, which includes aerodynamics.
The aerodynamic aspect means EVERY CRAFT in flight is doing so
autonomously. Stability factors of a design in reality are controls?
In spite of the fact that as the rule was written it covers a multitude of
aircraft the objective was obvious. Ban the flight of model aircraft beyond
the sight of the owner-pilot., Problem became the rule bans ALL autonomoos flight which seems most unnecessary and places a undesired
restriction on model aviation development and progress.
Perhaps it was an error to use the word autonomous with it's broad meaning, another description would have been better?
It does seem the rules makers never considered the free flight potential.
They quite normally fly out of sight and are programed to do so. While
their flight path and actual distination is not accurate it is in a precise direction.
AMA has a 55 lb weight limit? 40 lbs of modern explosive can do considerable damage? How about a 55 lb explosive loaded free flight
set lose with much fuel?
Hey, wait a minute! I am giving the bad guys ideas? Poibt is if desired
it is not hard to conjure up all sorts of ways to do bad and there are not
enough rules in the whole world to cover it all!
Perhaps the AMA would so well to forget the rest of the world and just
concentrate on our model aviation?
Hows zat?

Hal deBolt