Ghost Rider,

Ahhhhh, perhaps you or others think I have some aversion to the speeds the RC planes operate at? I made the comment about Van Nuys simply to let people know my location and the statement about being a Private Pilot was simply in the hope that it would let some know I have some aviation background, although little of it RC.

I also have a glider rating and did build and fly a small RC glider years ago, primarily taking advantage of the ridge lift along the coastline.

Lastly, my brother and I hold an aviation world record for speed over a recognized course in our class of aircraft (Beech V35B) so I love the quest for speed as well.

Perhaps some of my intro led to mis-impressions. I personally wouldn't care if I heard sonic booms coming from the RC field and am delighted by the quest for speed in all forms. I also don't think anyone operating these RC craft at this level would do anything to jeopardize their enormous investments by doing anything dangerous or ill-advised.

I'm not asking if any specific planes there broke any rules, nor would I care to police them in any way, I find their operations safe, prudent and entertaining.

I was actually playing golf with a friend at an adjacent golf course and he suggested they were travelling in excess of 200mph (an arbitrary number), I at first surmised a slower speed and then my analytical side started estimating a 1/4 mile, something I'm familiar with from drag racing, and counting how quickly they covered that distance. I concluded they might in fact be faster and said "I'll go on the internet tonight and find out". I did the google etc. and was surprised at how little definitive info I could find but my search found a few forum posts including this forum so I thought I would pose the question here.

I'm not asking how fast they go at that field, or any field in the USA, but rather at ANY field, in any country, or an aircraft carrier, whatever. It's really just curiousity based and as I said in my follow-up post, I found the operators at that field quite friendly and perhaps they can answer the general question there.

I don't know how to assure anyone here my intentions are harmless but as I say, I'm not asking nor do I care about specifics of any location, just looking for general info which I was surprised I couldn't find on the web.

Personally I find the sights and sounds of fast aircraft of any size pleasant and hope you can all sneak in a 300mph+ run whenever and wherever you can....

Joe