It has begun.... my local park where I learned to fly has banned flying

[Dizzy]

so low I could clearly see the camera turning. My guess is he was at 400 to 500 feet, although it is very hard to tell accurately.

Anyway I don't want to get into a pissing contest with the police or the CAA.

I have felt the same mainly because I live in a Training area with Preddanick air Field just down the road And Culdrose only about 6 miles from me in a straight line, jets and Merlins fly over the area well below 400 ft and its seems to be far more frequently than in the past also, Plenty of nosey people around with nothing better to do  I been approached a couple of times with the remark you fly these drone things don't you  :-X
My answer is no! sold them, I only fly fixed wing now. The media hype is the thing that I don't want coming my way.
I still fly and enjoy my FPV but not going to give any body any ammunition to try to nail me I fly as safe as I can using common sense,   unlike a particular local who breach's every imaginable rule that a licensed operator should abide by :+ This particular guy is a proper know it all with money  :( Funny thing is I don't see a CAA license number on his octocopter :laugh: I,m just waiting to see the S--- hit the fan at some point :(

dizzy ;)

[krikey]

You may find that many public spaces and parks already have a byelaw in place to stop RC aircraft flights. Its not like RC is anything new, its been popular for decades. When I started 3 years ago with a tiny 3 channel foamie, I asked Southampton City Council if I could fly from the Common. I stated the size of the plane which had a wingspan of about 1.5ft and they said that was ok, but larger aircraft were not permitted (although they didn't stipulate what larger was). As it transpired, Southampton Common does get quite busy so common sense (no pun intended) prevailed and I never flew there regularly.

The New Forest has a byelaw banning RC planes from all spaces except designated flying sites, namely Beaulieu Aerodrome, the home of a WWII airfield for Spits and Hurricanes. That's been in place for quite a while, at least as long as I've been flying (3 years).

In reality, I've flown in the New Forest and outside of the Bournemouth ATZ and within 400ft altitude so way below the height of the feeder corridoors and not had too many problems, as long as I'm careful and considerate. Most people are inquisitive and friendly and the odd one gets a bit shirty.

I've had one incident 3 years ago where a ranger asked us to pack up but only after some horse riders complained that one of our craft had spooked their horse and she'd been thrown. In reality, the thrown rider was actually out of visual range and no where near any of our gear, but because her horse bolted past us and she walked by some 10-15 minutes later, we were the vent for her rupturing spleen!

Interestingly enough, we were able to offer help to the ranger and the rider by mounting an aerial reconnaisance for said horse after explaining what we were doing and he was quite impressed and a little apologetic that he had to ask us to pack up.

So I agree with Electrotor, if you can, let them vent, then try to turn them around. No point in a spleen vs spleen faceoff and hopefully at the end of it you might have someone more likely to extol the virtues of our hobby.

If that doesn't work, smack them over the head, scout out a deserted site using your quad copter and bury their body where it'll never be found.

[FPVSteve]

Agree with you Dizzy RE: the multirotors - I very rarely fly my quadcopter now, I get close to zero hassle when flying planes... as if they're somehow more innocent (when in reality they can fly higher, further and carry more powerful + expensive gear - plus weigh more and travel faster :laugh: )

[keukpa]

Reading this is just depressing me more about the hobby I 'used' to love! It seems everyone is trying to stop it.

I haven't really flown (except for 1 day three weeks ago) properly since about September last year.... it seems it's not worth the hassle!

Keukpa

[Cockney Boy]

We've got around it by tapping up a few friendly local farmers. It's amazing how a few bottles of cheap scotch will make them say "yes you can fly, just make sure the gates closed"

On the plus side some have asked for crop inspection later in the year.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Spookfish]

Reading this is just depressing me more about the hobby I 'used' to love! It seems everyone is trying to stop it.

It certainly seems that way. That said... I still think there is a lot of fun to be had from the hobby though. Just look at Dogzilla's latest vid for example...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GEANNQVlZbo
Looks awesome fun and no real danger or rules broken. I very much doubt you'd get much objection to that type of flying as long as you are completely away from people property or livestock.

Fast and low is where its at... I've always said that.

[Ratty]

The sooner fixed wing is band and mini quads rule the world the better.  :sparta:


;D

[FPVSteve]

For me, it's about avoiding people - stealth flying. I want to be able to park up somewhere and not look like I'm flying (or better yet, not be seen).

The plane flies away from me for the most part - it's the dog walkers etc who just wander up and expect a conversation that I can't be bothered with. Or worse, people who are bored and ask stupid questions.

Yea, yea I'm anti-social. That's my choice. I wish people would respect it :laugh:

[Warrior]

For me, it's about avoiding people - stealth flying. I want to be able to park up somewhere and not look like I'm flying (or better yet, not be seen).

The plane flies away from me for the most part - it's the dog walkers etc who just wander up and expect a conversation that I can't be bothered with. Or worse, people who are bored and ask stupid questions.

Yea, yea I'm anti-social. That's my choice. I wish people would respect it :laugh:

Just make a sign saying I'm deaf so don't try talking to me. Or pi$$ off and leave me alone..Depending on what mood your in is your choice on which one you use.

[Spookfish]

Yeah its very unnerving when you hear a dog sniffing around you whilst you're goggled up trying to concentrate. It's the main reason I don't fly alone.