As I see it we have been trained to spot suspicious activity and we reacted accordingly. If the OP was a legit guy, I'm really sad that we didn't help him but we responded correctly given the information we had. I'd say this thread speaks well of the community. Any question about how to build a plane or flying techniques or engine tuning gets answered in minutes, while a question about something shady gets nothing. If we keep our hobby about aeromodeling and nothing else, then we'll have few worries about losing our priveledges.

Really? We spotted a suspicious act? You may think it speaks well of the community, I beg to differ. I think it's living in fear, in haste some run to extremes like we posses some secret knowledge only hidden to it's members. Seriously, is this not borderline delusional behavior? I'm glad two regular guys gave him solid answers as I would have.

Two healthy individuals helped the guy plenty. Maybe he left the thread because he has two choices to run with? Maybe he is getting answers now from Tech Support at Tower? Maybe he's a new user on rcgroups, fly ing gi ants, and others? I think it's remarkable from the vague information he gave with only 4 points of criteria to follow, that anyone would get paranoid over it. Further his intentions good or bad isn't about to be the pivotal point that will end your hobby suddenly folks. It's the collection of acts of stupidity that will do it instead rather than one potential misuse of an RC airplane. Most likely glow will end first, no one likes the noise. I remember mufflers were a no no in the 70s and flying in the school yard was just peachy.

Did they stop making cars when the bad guys put bombs in them?
Did they end passenger flights indefinitely after 9/11?
How about subway travel? Do we take Tylenol now that the cap is sealed?
Do people still buy Firestone tires and Explorers? Yep, I own both. I'm still upright.
I guess this was how Americans were put in detention camps here in the USA in 1942 because they were from Japanese descent during a war against Japan? We sure blew up millions for Pearl Harbor, didn't we? I guess that gave us 60 years of peace domestically.

When will people enjoy welcoming new people to the hobby and forum without such pathetic scrutiny? His questions having any hostile motive can't be determined in such a short post and nothing was prevented by insulting him. It just put him somewhere else more inviting. Maybe the hobby needs more regulation for homeland safety so everyone can stop acting so paranoid and unable to decipher a threat from a simple question.
It's vanity to say whatever knowledge we possess can't be easily replicated online from several hobby sources including a historical archive here by clicking "search", although I really hate the beta version.
THE INFORMATION IS EVERYWHERE, it's up to the user on how it is to be used or abused. He quoted the Telemaster and SIG Kadet Senior, so he's already on the path to getting what he wants if he takes out the dihedral. So shoot me, I gave him a clue.
Regardless of whatever disaster you imagine you diverted here this week, you contained and hid no secrets that he already probably found and ordered. Google just does that for people. Considering his proper use of the English language in his postings, I'm sure if he was a bad guy, the LAST place he would go to get random and inconsistent advice would be this forum. He can just call Tower direct and get all his answers over the phone so they complete a sale.

Is life that dull to get overly excited over what appears to me to be only an innocent inquiry that WAS answered twice, and after the fact? The 80" wingspan and 2 lb payload poses absolutely no "threat" for whatever he can get his hands on at the local Wal-Mart or Best Buy sale flyer. Maybe he found a camera and a restricted area to take a picture of. I bet he'll need to take several passes to get anything on his digital memory card.

1/2 mile was his stated range on the Revolver site, so what? It's all within the scope of the hobby. AMA should write some new rules I guess. Maybe RCU can get thumb prints for new members and send them to the FBI for screening. Are we a free country yet? I read nothing that merits such a defensive posture but runaway fear and a lack of understanding.

Maybe he wants to introduce a really cool accessory for my 80" wingspan planes he's developing. Darn, the project has to be delayed a few hours now.

Different people, different perceptions. His story didn't add up to me, and a few others saw it that way too. I've never seen a guy come on the forum and ask about getting started in modeling and not get help. This guy didn't ask that, and sounded shady. Maybe we overreacted and offended an innocent guy, or maybe we didn't. I figure what's more likely is he was looking to do something he shouldn't but was unaware of the hobby's attitude towards it. Now he knows, and others who read the forum do too.

I read nothing that makes anyone look good for giving him a hard time from speculation. Maybe he's a witch, and we can burn / drown him to see if we're wrong. See the point yet?

There wasn't enough to go off the deep end, and as you said, you'll never know, jumping the gun.

How about this suspicious post?

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_96..._1/key_/tm.htm

Collecting personal information on people's background in the hobby could mean what score he can take from your garage, or getting date of birth info and in the member section, your full name and address (whitepages.com to fill in the rest). Could be identity theft in the making! Oh dear, don't give out your date of birth and list of RC inventory! Maybe the READERS that are silent get the vital information they want.

OR, he could just be what he seems to be, friendly, old school, back when a generation was part of a country that made things themselves.

The world is full of nice people doing nice things for other nice people.  It's all lollipops and cotton candy.

Unfortunately, it ain't the 50's anymore. Perhaps you've seen a news story or two about this?

OK....I'll start off telling you why this post worried me in the first place.....You could tell he wasn't an RC pilot.....so he's a beginner...fine....what beginner cares about the payload capacity of an aircraft?

Noticed he used the term payload.......what can 2 lbs do? Alot, I don't want to say in an open forum....but 2 Lbs is plenty depending on the payload......and a crowded area where there are lots of people in the open.....

Living in fear....I think not....Do you open your front door at 1 in the morning if there is a knock? Or do you look out the window....If like most of us you look out the window are you living in fear...of course not you are being careful as we were by not being to forth coming with info....

Once questioned the OP became defensive.....down playing any danger...are there documented incidents of using RC as a weapon...not on our scale..that I know of.....have there been incidents where someone was killed by RC planes.....yes The last one was in Brazil last fall......an accident...but it happened

The OP asked us what we thought he was up to....I don't know.....but now I am back to why are you wanting to know about the payload capacity of an aircraft.....

There is a difference between living in fear and being careful.....when you live in fear you change your routine.....when you're being careful you see something and ask a question before being forthcoming with info......I doubt any of us has changed our routines.....

Just my opinion....Good flying to all

More pretentiousness. You could tell he wasn't an RC pilot? Me too! Define pay·load (p�′l�d′)

noun

1. a cargo, or the part of a cargo, producing income
2.
1. a load that consists of anything carried by an aircraft, rocket, etc. that is not essential to its flight operations, including warheads, spacecraft, or passengers
2. the weight of such a load

2 lbs could rule out warhead and passengers unless we're talking something smaller than ferrets. A common UAV application is video/photography.
He stated the range was 1/2 mile.

His question was answered twice, so what prevention actually occurred? Trust me, you couldn't help him or prevent him from doing anything he wants to do.




[quote]ORIGINAL: ilektron

I am new to planes, and I am looking for a plane that meets the following conditions

1. Around 80'' wingspan . Something in the size range of a Telemaster Senior or Sig Kadet.
2. Can comfortably cruise at 80-100mph without crazy modifications
3. ARF or RTF
4. Can carry around 2 lb payload

Anybody have any suggestions? I am looking into the GP 70'' Revolver, 84'' Reactor, or Giant Super Sportster available from TowerHobbies.com.

And don't worry, I won't be flying it. An experienced RC pilot would fly it.

It doesn't take much imagination to think of what could be done with what he's asking about. If you can't figure it out... well, good.<br type="_moz" />

Yes he could have been a nice guy just seeking information...there is no doubt that could have been the case.....

there is a possibility that he could have been something else.....when asked why the 2 lb payload he didnt answer...it's a secret....if he had said it was for a camera he would have probably gotten different answers.....could he have been lying about a camera...... sure he could have...

But this way I feel better.....loose lips sink ships kinda deal.......

as always good flying to all

I would say that everyone here on this post should be commended. We all must be careful, not because we want to live in fear, but because the current enemies of our country are not happy-go-lucky citizens, they are nut-jobs and fanatics! Many of which are young and not very well trained. Offering information blindly to anyone asking would just be naive.
nitro-pilot, I understand where you are coming from however. Everyday I see more and more of the personal freedoms gained through the bravery and blood of our soldiers and patriots taken away due to paranoia and some politician's idea of what's best for everybody. Outside of the hobby, I am surrounded by security sensitive environments and due to the events of the last couple decades there is ample evidence that care and caution need to be taken. Am I happy about it - no. There are enemies among us....plain and simple.....I am not narrowly eyeing everyone Ipass on the street, but a very minimum of caution should be exercised when red flags are hoisted. No one on this forum went to extremes, they just expressed logical concern and Ihope that more Americans would be as willing to question those things that just don't pass the smell test. Whether it is on a RC forum, at an airport, or at a sporting event. I am much more comfortable knowing that people are willing to question something instead of just ignoring any warning signs because they may be viewed as profilers, racist, paranoid or any other pc jargon.
I am new to r/c airplanes and will be seeking many answers from the knowledgeable people on these forums, but these forums are not necessary the place for "super classified" business projects. Like one poster commented, if this is for a business, they have means to get more "official" answers than seeking info on a forum. I want to personally thank everyone who gave the slightest pause andquestioned the intentions of another poster.I am proud tobe a member of the R/C community and Ihope Ican enjoy the hobbyfor a very long time to come.