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-   -   Define a drone (https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-jets-120/11624844-define-drone.html)

JohnVH 12-23-2015 04:03 PM


Originally Posted by hairy46 (Post 12148053)
But anything flown out of sight is a drone! Anything we fly only line of sight is NOT! Ok again find the loophole! Geez

NO, anything remotely controlled is a drone, by definition. LOS or not...

hairy46 12-23-2015 04:56 PM

Mine are P47s p51s etc.etc. etc. Remote control planes, that's what they were till these multi rotor's came, like it or not!

Duncman 12-23-2015 05:12 PM


Originally Posted by JohnVH (Post 12148072)
NO, anything remotely controlled is a drone, by definition. LOS or not...

JohnVH that is correct, Hairy46 is misinformed. The FAA definition of Drone is: Any vehicle operating in the National Airspace that is non-man carrying and is remotely controlled either line of sight o.r with an onboard real time video system(FPV).

The definition is broad reaching but I do have a couple of questions. First, does the def include control line? That is remotely controlled. And what about free flight? If they are going to split hairs, those models constantly violate the altitude restriction. Just a thought.

joancmigneault 12-23-2015 05:34 PM

"DRONE" is a military radio controled aircraft that can drop bombs or fire misiles.

bcovish 12-23-2015 06:10 PM

Merriam-Webster definition of a Drone

Definition of drone

  • 1 : a stingless male bee (as of the honeybee) that has the role of mating with the queen and does not gather nectar or pollen
  • 2 : one that lives on the labors of others : parasite
  • 3 : an unmanned aircraft or ship guided by remote control or onboard computers
  • 4 a : drudge 1 b : drudge 2

    Oh, I must be a drone, I think I qualify by definition #2

hairy46 12-23-2015 06:30 PM

Yeah What ever! All I know when my RC planes were called planes they were good and no trouble now that they are called drones they are from the gates of hell! Who knew!

hairy46 12-23-2015 06:42 PM

And I stand corrected, my P51drone P47 drone and all my other etc. etc. etc. drones are not airplanes they are drones, just going to take some getting use too, I have mistakenly for Years called them airplanes, I apologize for my actions, now I have to get ready to take a drone out of Denver to visit my kids for Christmas,

Duncman 12-23-2015 07:26 PM


Originally Posted by joancmigneault (Post 12148126)
"DRONE" is a military radio controled aircraft that can drop bombs or fire misiles.

Military Drones do not fall under FAA jurisdiction. The definition that is of a concern to us is the one I quoted in post #28. It would a far palatable action if the FAA would tighten up the definition similar to bdoxy in post #17.

poison 12-23-2015 08:32 PM

D- Doesn't
R- require
O- operator
N- needing
E- experience

Duncman 12-23-2015 08:48 PM


Originally Posted by poison (Post 12148227)
D- Doesn't
R- require
O- operator
N- needing
E- experience

That is pretty much the problem.

airplanenut1 12-23-2015 11:04 PM

Calling them drones is the P.C. name for all things flying RC apparently that's why your airplanes are now drones I can't stand people calling my airplanes drones it makes me wanna slap some people

Rob2160 12-24-2015 12:16 AM

Define a Drone?

The definition has existed long before multicopters appeared in this hobby.

Look it up in any dictionary

All RC flying machines are Drones. Fixed wing, helicopter and multicopters.

some examples.

Oxford dictionary:

4 A remote-controlled pilotless aircraft or missile.

Cambridge Dictionary:


A type of aircraft that does not have a pilot but is controlled by someone on the ground.

Collins Dictionary:

A pilotless radio controlled aircraft.

The ICAO definition:

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone and also referred to as an unpiloted aerial vehicle and a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is an aircraft without a human pilot aboard.

What is the definition of an Aircraft?

"an aeroplane, helicopter, or other machine capable of flight."



By these definitions if you fly any RC aircraft you are a Drone Pilot.

hairy46 12-24-2015 05:55 AM

Even my granddaughter's pink .25 sized cute as it is trainer, that's also a drone?kind of sad really, well now that I know my airplanes, excuse me my drones true identity I feel that some of you older guys owe me an apology, was it not you guys when I showed up at the fields saying stuff like I like your plane, or what engine do you have in your plane, etc. you did not say drone, if you had I would not have went through life so misinformed. Even through I now blame you guys (can't blame ourselves anymore world) I did turn myself over my knee and spanked myself. But each and every one of you that made a comment about my planes excuse me drones and the guilty know who you are! Should also get same spanking. Just saying.

hairy46 12-24-2015 06:32 AM

OK guys lets get completely serious now, because this is a very serious matter! I just wanted to see how wide spread this drone lie has been, so I went over to Tower hobbies (been in business since 1971) and looked up drone, they listed only multi rotor in drones, then when I looked up airplanes they listed only fixed wing aircraft, do you not see how serious this problem is, someone selling drones under the name airplanes for dang near 45 years! Man that is a lawsuit about to happen, I can not believe tower, a online hobby store that I held in such high regard, (even named two of my kids after) has aso blatantly lied to me, had I known I was buying drones I would not have purchased such items. Was under the assumption they were indeed airplanes, I also think my daughters Hobbies and Tower should have there names changed at Tower Hobbies expense!

stevekott 12-24-2015 07:27 AM

On a positive note. When someone asks you what you like to do for fun its a lot easier to say "I fly Drones" as opposed to saying "I fly Radio Controlled Model Aircraft".

hairy46 12-24-2015 07:36 AM

Honestly finding out I been flying drones all these years as opposed to airplanes has been tougher on me then finding out I was raised by two dads and wasn't adopted!

stevekott 12-24-2015 07:42 AM


Originally Posted by hairy46 (Post 12148422)
Honestly finding out I been flying drones all these years as opposed to airplanes has been tougher on me then finding out I was raised by two dads and wasn't adopted!

That has to make Mother's day very confusing :D

AndyAndrews 12-24-2015 07:43 AM

lol I posted to the wrong comment.. sorry :)

AndyAndrews 12-24-2015 07:46 AM

I guess my grandkids GI Joe with a parachute is a drone now. (it's the larger one lol)

hairy46 12-24-2015 08:15 AM

Hey I may have found a loophole, if a man can put on woman's cloths and call himself a woman, or a woman can put on men's cloths and call herself a man, why can't us fixed wing guys call ourselves Remote control airplane pilots as opposed to drone pilots hmmm?

poison 12-24-2015 09:36 AM

Hey Aieplanenut1 I agree with you. I don't give a hoot what they say my airplanes and my helicopters are not no stinking drone!! A drone has 4 or more blades and a camera on the bottom of it.They are used for other reasons than personal enjoyment. I like to add on tower hobbies post. I can't believe that they sold out to multiy rotors no more helicopters. I been customer of there's for over 14 years not so much anymore. Amain hobbies now for me or eBay lol.

rptasrs1 12-24-2015 10:51 AM

I told a drone pilot at our field this morning that If I ever see him flying outside the boundaries of our field again I'd take his radio off of him and smash it on the ground and when his drone returned home by itself i'd smash that too. So I guess my definition of a drone is something that allows you to break it to pieces because it returned to home after you smashed the owners transmitter!!!

rptasrs1 12-24-2015 11:04 AM

I'm also banking that when all these idiots open their Christmas drones tomorrow morning that 12 GA #6 shot will take them down with one shot!!! I figure the airspace over my house is mine!!! Enter it and see what happens drone boy!!!

hairy46 12-24-2015 01:22 PM

Geez I hope you guys are not talking about my wardrones like the P51and the P47 it has just very recent come to my attention that they are drones, have I not been punished enough already? What about spanking I took? Peace on earth good will toured drones.

Duncman 12-24-2015 01:25 PM


Originally Posted by rptasrs1 (Post 12148554)
I'm also banking that when all these idiots open their Christmas drones tomorrow morning that 12 GA #6 shot will take them down with one shot!!! I figure the airspace over my house is mine!!! Enter it and see what happens drone boy!!!

Tell that to the Sheriff when he handcuffs you for discharging a firearm in the city limit and to the judge that will be deciding the civil suit the drone owner has bestowed upon you for destroying his quad copter stuff. Please be sure to post on this forum how well that worked for you.


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