In simple terms.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) - Any vehicle that does not have a human physically in it, but it is being controlling remotely period!

Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) - Any vehicle that does not have a human in it , but it is being controlling remotely by Line of Sight (LOS) or it is being controlled by video transmission. It may also be partially or fully autonomous by way of a computer or flight controller.

Drone - An unmanned aircraft or ship that can navigate autonomously, without human control or beyond line of sight. (Loosely used definition) Any unmanned aircraft or ship that is guided remotely.

Note: The FAA uses UAS because it defines both UAV and a Drone.

lol, I just love it when people use the term "period" as if to say things never change. When it comes to the FAA, the word period apply's every time they open their mouths.

Period! BLAHHHH

It maybe that FAA is getting their terminology from Websters Dictionary..."Drone" an unmanned aircraft or ship guided by remote control.
Remote control could be just about anything electronic !!

Too soon to tell but perhaps that was clockboy's drone, you know the one he invented himself. In that case all will be forgiven, and then some.

So would r/c cars, motorcycles, blimps and subs also be considered drones?

"....if, ands, or buts.....Period"!

I love it...that's awesome!

Pick the one that goes up into the national airspace, and you have your answer.

Bet the day will come when "drone" will cover everything air, surface, subsurface that is controlled by radio without an pilot, operator, driver, etc. in it.

That's what they look like to me anyways. There was a guy who used a custom one to lift up a full sized dirt bike. It looked like a great big black hovering octopus.

You all just have to go back to paper airplanes!...

Oh...an keep your monster trucks from getting air born!....LOL

[QUOTE=SushiHunter;12151459]Well if you're out for exciting adrenelin rush r/c why aren't you doing turbines then? Hell, even my Habu 32 8s stumax will give you more of a rush then a r/c hovering octopus.

It's all relative, Turbine jet flying out in a big box.....edf jet flying in a much smaller box ( harder to see it).....Micro beast in a still much smaller box all about the same excitement!!!. I learned how to fly heli 30 years ago without a gyro, that was exciting. Racing the boats would be closer to having 8 turbine jets pylon racing in a parking garage, and during the laps 6 would go down and be in the way while you finish the race!.

This is interesting, sorry off topic. Over 500mph in a 300' circle and no motor to boot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFPJ6DUAY10

Drones are the things you see plastered on the first 2 pages of AMA magazine this month. The magazine is titled " Model Aviation ". If the AMA can't tell the difference, how do we expect the FCC to consider them any different than model airplanes ???

Why does it matter? GOD the FAA doesn't use the term. at least in the reference to R/C TOYS... they use UAS Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Now ask the News Media or any one Not affiliated with R/C flying,
DRONE. An evil device that was created to Kill commercial airliners full of Innocent people or nasty things that spy on people in their bedrooms.

[QUOTE=Tiporarefun;12151820]Agreed, its a circular discussion though because what I find exciting might be boring to others and vice versa.

I flew pylon racers in he early 80's so raw speed stopped producing adrenaline over 30 years ago. The Habu is a nice plane, smooth and easy to fly but in my opinion nothing exciting or challenging there.

I had taken a break from RC fixed wing as I had lost the passion after 30 years so flying aerobatics in helicopters and multicopters is a refreshing change.

I also agree the large flying octopus camera ships are boring purely from a piloting perspective, but as a tool for aerial photography they are hard to beat.

Show me a fixed wing turbine that can do this.... It is by far the most challenging RC flying I have tried.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjOqNljw7ck

[QUOTE=Rob2160;12151997]Nope not interested the least bit in seeing the terrain from the perspective of something like a flying tennis ball. Plus if that's being flown outside of LOS isn't that now against new FAA policy?

Exactly my point. You have no interest in flying a multi like this and I have no interest flying an RC jet around the sky. No challenge in that from my perspective but if you enjoy it that is cool with me.

There is enough variety in this hobby to keep everyone happy.

You may be right about FPV and the FAA but they have no jurisdiction in Australia and I can fly FPV legally beyond visual line of sight.

Originally Posted by SushiHunter

Nope not interested the least bit in seeing the terrain from the perspective of something like a flying tennis ball. Plus if that's being flown outside of LOS isn't that now against new FAA policy?
Hey Rob
Like I always say if U can't find something one likes in this hobby go buy a Sail Boat a Lawn chair and a 6 pac. Now when U sober up U can use your FPV to find the Sail Boat or maybe another 6 pac and to He]] with the dumb boat.

Besides U assies ain't got a goofy FAA down under either. Hey can ya fly one of them there mix master (quads) under the influence. Just Kidd'n guy. Hows your summer going. Parts of the USA ain't havin a good winter. Tornados, flooding and Blizzards Kill'en People and all.

p.s. running in and out of the ruins looks like a blast.

Some day if/when my hand/eye coordination isn't like it used to be when I was younger I'll get into flying a multirotor "drone". I'll need that safety net of just taking my fingers off the controls so it stops moving and just hovers dead in it's tracks until I regain coordination and continue on. Damn jets and planes! Can't just stop them moving forward when loosing control.

Ahhh ... Remember when the U.S.A. was the land of the free!


By the way .. No more talk of illegal RC Flyers.

From now on they are referred to as Undocumented Drone Pilots

Yes, I do remember. Matter of fact, I remember a number of years ago saying that if the Government could figure out a way to make everyone pay for the air they breath, they'd do so. Everyone laughed then but years later Bamacare came out.

I wonder if the quad copter pilot asked for permission from the county before he zipped through and videoed the ruins of the old Maui high school?

Anyone in government will ALWAYS say no if you ask permission. They take an oath. Its part of the CYA doctrine.

You will get much more accomplished in life if you later ask for forgiveness rather than upfront asking for permission.