If I typically fly an 80" wingspan. 30cc engine 12lbs, 2.4ghz tx/rx, no telemetry, no FPV...am I flying a "Model Airplane" or a "Small Unmanned Aerial System"? Seems like these terms are sometimes interchanged. To me, it's always been a model airplane that I fly and the sUAS are the autonomous ones...thoughts??
M

Technically speaking, "sUAS" encompasses any airplane that flies without a pilot and is below a certain size and weight. So yes, you are flying an sUAS that is a model airplane. sUAS's also include autonomous UAV's and remote guided planes that travel to a destination and/or do a job while in the air like take photos or air samples. For our interest, the AMA has been lobbying (successfully I might add) to make a distinction between sUAS's that are hobby oriented for recreational use versus sUAS's that are built to do a job for research or commercial use.

Thanks Jester...that clears it up...looks like for now, I fly both...but my preference is to fly model airplanes...
M

Definition from the FAA-ARC recommendations:

Model Aircraft: A sUAS used by hobbyists and flown within visual line-of-sight under
direct control from the pilot, which can navigate the airspace, and which is manufactured or
assembled, and operated for the purposes of sport, recreation and/or competition.

The key words are hobbiest, VLOS, sport, recreation, competition