Make it clear? Well let's see ... how about the AMA paved the road for anyone with means to take it upon themselves to do exactly what the video depicts and then some.

You know it's funny LCS but you brought up a good point in your first post on this page, so re-read it. Now put 2 and 2 together and what do you get ... hypocrisy. On one hand you support the shooting of projectiles at RC airplanes. On the other hand you belive it's a detriment when someone pushes the legal limit. Now maybe you'll understand the principal I was going for when we were talking about paintballing RC airplanes.

I mean who for a second didn't think this video was forthcoming? But don't worry it will only get bigger and better, it always does. It's not a prediction, it's a fact. But hey it's all good it's endorsed and insured by the AMA so go crazy!

STL,

I thought you may have been alluding to some such silliness... You have finally exceeded yourself...That is the most absurd thing you have ever posted.

I contend this thread has nothing to do with the AMA but if someone desires to construe that it somehow does, it definitely is at the expense of our hobby.

Silly when it's a RPG, not silly when it's a paintball, go figure.

YUCK! STL; My 18 year old grand-daughter was very good in the paintball community when she was 16. People shoot at each other with those things everyday.

Now, I would have given EVEN YOU credit for being able to tell the difference between a RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) and a paintball.

I still would bet that if you have the preference between a paintball and either a .38 Special, .44 magnum, or a 7mm. remington magnum, you would take the paintball.

This should add to the conversation.

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/robot-a...00010000000001

I'd sure like to know what was fired at, hit, and detonated that plane in the video. For certain is was guided in some manner and not simply fired through an "open sight". I know the military uses larger than average RC models as target drones but that did not look to be a military operation.

I can see it now. "hey, look. we've finally been able to make a portable missle we can guide to a model plane. All we have to do now is make it a little bigger so it can go higher and hit bigger planes." Just lovely.

I'm not keen on the paintball idea either. Fun, but exceedingly stupid.

The faa and other bureaucracy's are currently creating new laws and regulations concerning uav's. I didn't know they were domestically prevalent to the point where such is needed. Most if not all uav's have something to do with government surveillance anyway. Hopefully they will know the difference between uav's and RC airplanes, but is there?

There really is no difference, robert. The only distinction between a model airplane and a SUAS ("small unmanned aerial system) is that one is used for recreation, and the other is used commercially. In order for an enterprise to operate a SUAS, a COA (certificate of authorization) is required. This requires the organization to jump through many hoops, and currently a business cannot use the system for profit. It's used for research instead. Local governing bodies are not exempt from the COA requirement. Hobbyists can fly a SUAS under AC 91-57, because it is for recreation and is thus considered a model airplane.

NorfolkSouthern

Regarding regs, uavs, and definations. Currently there are extreme changes taking place with the laws regarding uav operations...worldwide. Europe and Australia are well into developing regs for the use of uav's in civilian airspace, and we are close behind. In the next two to four years the use of unmanned units will be commplace in much of the American airspace, without being restricted to special use areas. At the moment one of the international definitions of a uav is a remotely piloted air vehicle with a weight in excess of 25 kilograms. Most of the regulatory development work is taking place behind closed doors and through special Congressional hearings. Some of the more sophisticated small uav's are indeed being used for profit in U.S airspace. This from direct, continuous personal involvement and operation of same.

I'm not going to pose questions or opinions. What's noted above simply "is" and not thoughtful fancy. I'll let ya'll fight you're way through it.

[/quote]Sure I do! And I bet you would know the difference between a paintball and a .44 when used in self defense.

The activity is still called ground to air, defined by the AMA when they responded in regards to paintballing activities. You understand relativity? I'm no lawyer but once the AMA clarified their stance on ground to air, it did in fact pave the road for any and all ground to air operations for RC airplanes. Now if something happens, they can never again use the ol' "we never said that pitch". What these guys demonstrated in the video was ground to air, and as long as they are taking proper safety precautions, what they were doing is within the AMA safety code. However taking proper safety precautions is only in the eye of the beholder. If it was that simple the AMA wouldn't have long drawn out document outlining combat operations, don't ya think. I think it's time for the AMA to step up to the plate and define ground to air projectiles.

Since you are running for AMA President, what is your stance on the limitations of ground to air operations? Seems to be an up and coming activity.

Yeah Hoss, lets hear your position on ground to air ops, aka 'takeoffs.' AMA could reduce their insurance risk dramatically with more limitations on this kind of dangerous activity. It would make static judging more important at contests too, for those that are in to that sort of thing. You could even trump Dave Brown's Homeland Security policy initiatives with such rule making.

Abel

You know Abel it's funny when we keep reading these posts about how we are supposed to "keep our eyes open" when we see something that looks dangerous or detrimental to the hobby. Then when we see it those same eyes close and voice of opinion instantly changes tune. LCS posts on this page and his last post on the last page was the perfect example. So lets just keep em closed until we see just how far someone will push the limits instead ... all in favor?

STL-

Do you need AMA to tell you to be alert to suspicious behavior of strangers around you? I don't, and I don't think LCS does either. Actually I don't really think you need AMA to tell you how to act, but conversely, you seem to think I, LCS, et al do. That is why 'what we have here is a failure to communicate.' I trust my own judgment of what is acceptable behavior, and what is acceptable risk in a given place and time. Similarly, I trust those I would associate with to exercise similar good judgment and/or at least the potential consequences of a risky action. If somebody around me needs somebody in another state that has probably never seen the venue where our activity du jour is happening to tell him how to conduct himself appropriately, I will likely act to disassociate myself from him one way or another.
BTW, I know Jack S, and the difference between a paintball and a Stinger and other such MANPADS. Strange at may seem to you and Dave Brown many AMA members know the difference; those few that do not probably cannot read/comprehend his admonition anyway.

Abel

I suppose someone’s hobby could very well be shooting down flying objects...it has been done to good effect many times and hopefully will continue but this discussion topic isn't about that and certainly has nothing to do with the hobby I enjoy. Matter of fact, this whole thread has nothing to do with the AMA or my hobby no matter how you or anyone else tries to construe the most outlandish evidence. People blowup flying models all the time…nothing new…many movies would be pretty lame without something blowing up. Get over it! Move on…please!

Try not to magnify negatives…ok?

Try to say something positive about the hobby next time…please?

Magnify negatives are you kidding. Heck for all we know that video might be a US based Al Quaeda training camp, who knows. Heck for all we know they were practicing their technology on RC drones for what might come of perhaps a larger ship in the future. Whomever took that shot was not an amateur, it was an amazing shot.

I mean there is so much irony and hypocisy on this forum and most especially you included. People have been saying over and over keep eyes open and when we see something that may or may not be a suspicious activity we just turn cheek. I mean what you have said in your last few posts in this thread is literally a roller coaster ride of hypocisy.

STL - The "projectile" does not show up in the original video. Looks like someone is just good with digital photography. Therefore, your entire argument regarding ground to air fire is irrelevant, because it apparently did not happen as you describe it. This was a simple case of someone wanting to show how stupid they can be by putting a bomb on a spad and detonating it by a timer or radio signal. Kids with too much time, money and technology on their hands.

I do not think we should be putting this type of activity on our site as it is just more ammo for the "regulators" looking to shut down our sport / hobby.

Your statement that this activity is in compliance with the AMA safety code is so stupid it does not even merit a reply.

Read the "paint ball" regulations again. Slowly this time - It specifically says "paint balls". It does NOT legalize shooting Rifles, shotguns or ground to air missles at R/C aircraft.

Sorry but if you were right about this I would agree with you.

Hey Red,
Were you able to strereotype this guy?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070719/.../nuclear_theft

Out of a line up of old ladies with walkers, aged WWII Congressional medal holders, pregnant blond ladies in their final term with another child in arms, chances are that he would have stood out enough to cause some concern. [>:]

Once again, read this S L O W L Y and show me where it authorizes rifles, shotguns or surface to air missles!?!

It SPECIFICALLY talks about PAINT BALLS and PAINT BALL MARKERS!

Your argument is totally without merit!

AMA PDF 535-K

Paintball activities (ground to air)
The following procedures were provided to AMA in March of 2005 by the Corona Radio
Control Club, AMA Charter 1614:
Planned Procedures
Aircraft
1. Eight to ten specially prebuilt drones made from corrugated plastic (Coroplast) and
gutter pipe, similar to the “Friday (FNS) and Saturday (SNS) Night Specials”, found
on the SPAD to the Bone website, www.spadtothebone.com, will be used as our
flying targets.
2. Extra reinforcement and padding will be placed inside the gutter pipe, to protect the
radio equipment.
3. Specially pre-trained pilots will fly only four aircraft in the air at one time. Their
training will include emergency procedures to follow if control of the target drone is
lost due to impact of the paint ball.
4. Engien sizes will be limited to .40 size max. and AMA combat contest rules for
distances will apply (i.e. 500 ft. per cubic inch of 200 ft.)
5. During each refueling, each aircraft will be inspected for any signs of damage and if
so, will be immediately replaced with one of the prebuilt drones.
Flying Field
1. This event will be offered three times a day for approximately 1 hour each.
2. Tickets for paintballs may be purchased from our tickets kiosk.
3. Paintball markers will be supplied and regulated by, and only by the sponsoring
paintball store. This will prevent people from having unauthorized paintballs or
markers on the field.
4. There will be two netted safety cages, each with two participant stages. (four stages)
5. A safety officer from the professional paintball hosting company will man each stage
to ensure the safety of the participant.
A planned mapped layout of our field with netted safety cages is attached.

the army uses e-maxxes with nomadio radios and cameras to look around corners and see whats ahead and stuff it was in an rcdriver issue

You might want to go back and re-read the entire paintball thread. You may also want to communicate with the AMA directly, like I did. Shooting of projectiles at RC airplanes is within the AMA safety code. The subject at hand was paintballs for practical purposes. Like I said, don't take my word for it, will only take an email or two to find out for yourself.

But hey, I'm as shocked as you seem to be.

There is a military adage that you prepare not for what you think the enemy might do, but what you think the enemy can do.

how easy is it to get a microsoft flight sim for private aircraft and go to almost any field and steel a plane load it with explosives and take off. Private planes can fly under the radar and go a few hundred miles and carry more than enough explosives to do enough damage