>Somebody should shut these idiots down before they kill>someone. I suppose pilots are supposed to see and avoid their>toy as they fly blindly along? I will see if the FAA takes>any interest.SirBefore to call names anybody it will be a lot better to know something about them.I'm about to break a historic record that is on the FAI book for 34 years, and I'm doing this following al the rules, and you are calling me an Idiot. Life is unfair.Giorgio

Hi Giorgio,welcome to the Avsim forums. >Before to call names anybody it will be a lot better to know something about them.:).Cheers,Gosta.http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpg

Well, this 'model airplane + cam' topic is very common in the model world since some time.One of the biggest english forums even have a dedicated section for this:http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/Aerial_Pho...rumid_81/tt.htmFolks are doings this in North America, Europe and I guess in Japan, too.From what I know of the model rocket guys (>40.000 ft), they fly in a desert or salt lake area with full FAA permission within a timeframe.The next ATC/Radar keeps the airspace out of humanoids so they can do their hobby safely.

Georgio, I apologize for calling you an idiot. I did not know that you frequent this forum or I would have chosen my words differently.The fact is, what you are doing is unsafe. You are flying a toy blind in a heavily-traveled air corridor without any way to see or be seen by other pilots. I know you feel a collision is an impossibility. If events prove you wrong then you lose your toy and a pilot loses his life.

The hotlink probably sent him here from his own logs.Unless the area has been shut down to air traffic, then it is unsafe. If they notify the FAA (or other agency per location) and take measures to keep real planes out of the area, then I can't say I really care. I do wonder though what cost this hobby is putting real air travel at.Just be reponsible and play safe. I'm all for freedom and having hobbies, but I hope everyone who takes part realizes this could have potential risks, even for those on the ground if the plane is lost.

>I do wonder though what cost this hobby is putting real air travel at.http://www.hifisim.com/images/as2betateam.jpg

Good luck with your record attempt!Kind of related:We can no longer use RC models in my area because of the

>Georgio, I apologize for calling you an idiot. I did not>know that you frequent this forum or I would have chosen my>words differently.>I accept your apologies.I

Hey Giorgio,Rather than voice my opinion on this matter, I would be interested to know what the FAA has asked you to do, if anything, and if they have placed any restrictions on the flights.And for what it is worth, not considering the safety issue and how you are going about it (I do not want to get into that, as I still have mixed feelings), for the achievement alone, I congratulate you and wish you luck in the next ones.

Giorgio, I am not a Luddite and I hope won't be be grouped with those people who scream "what if it falls on my house?" I'm trying to raise a real issue that you as a pilot should understand. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that you are using NO traffic avoidance system beyond the old "big sky, little airplane" principle--that is, luck. And you are flying at altitudes used by everything from Skyhawks to 747s.As a pilot you know that the VFR/IFR distinction was based, first and foremost, on traffic avoidance.When we are flying VFR we have an amazing amount of freedom. Outside a few areas that are more tightly controlled, we can fly wherever we want, whenever we want, on any course and at any altitude we choose up to 18,000 feet, subject only to a few regulations about speed and crusing altitude. In most airspace we don't have to talk to a controller or even have a radio turned on.But the condition on that freedom is that we are responsible to SEE AND AVOID other traffic. Flying VFR we have to stay clear of clouds and keep away from areas of low visibility where we are unable to see and avoid other traffic. If we cannot avoid clouds or if visibility is reduced beyond certain limits, we can no longer legally fly VFR. We must fly IFR.Under IFR we have very little freedom. We are told what altitude to fly, when to climb, descend, turn, etc. Our movements are controlled by clearances that are issued on the basis of traffic avoidance. We are still expected to see and avoid if conditions permit, but we can fly IFR right down to zero visibilty because we are under the supervision of a controller whose radar becomes our eyes.The problem I have with what you are doings is that you are flying an unmanned vehicle of significant size in common airspace without the traffic avoidance of either IFR or VFR. You can't see to avoid other traffic, obviously. For most of the flight the model plane is not even visible to you. No controller is acting as your eyes and ears. Unless your model carries an altitude reporting transponder, which I doubt, a controller cannot even tell his IFR traffic to watch out for you see he will not know your altitude.Maybe "big sky, little airplane" has worked for you and maybe you will be lucky and it always will. Collisions are low-probability, high-cost events. But whatever happens, your feet are resting on the ground. The worst part of the risk is the one you are imposing on pilots in the air.

Giorgio,Welcome to the forums.... I'd be eager to hear if you break the record. Only thing which had me concerned was one of your videos, which showed an aircraft crossing directly underneath yours. I'm very familiar with FAA restrictions, having been involved in model rocketry back in the late 60's, early 70's. My question--if the FAA is aware of your flights, why are aircraft crossing your flight area? Why are you flying in an area where people on the ground are at risk should your aircraft fail--and it has already happened? Telling the FAA what you are up to is one thing, but do you file each flight with them? Is traffic restricted? Do you have radio communication for any errant traffic which crosses your flight area? I am all for stretching the envelope--but not at the risk of others. You have the right to do extreme things for extreme goals--but not if it risks others unknowingly. They don't have to pay the price for your efforts to break a record. Florida has enough wide open spaces where you might be able to have a safer effort at breaking your record. Heck, you could have killed someone on that golf course or in any one of those subdivisions I see in the videos..... I know what they used to say about aircraft--I've been around a number of years :) Still, you have to take precautions, rather than just suggest that risk is acceptable to explore the envelope.I hope all such fears are unfounded. We are all die hard aviation enthusiasts here--like you we don't feel we're playing with a toy--we feel we are members of a serious hobby which has a great impact on introducing the public to aviation. Your quest offers the same, but it can also backfire if someone is hurt, and that injury or death could have been avoided by your taking the time to drive an hour or two to a less populated area....

Nothing is complete safe. I

Hey Giorgio,Well, sad to say you have not done much good with your last post. The previous one was a lot better in the fact you were just stating facts, and had taken the blow pretty well, which is the right thing to do, but with the above post I am affraid you lost the credibility you had going for you. Let the flames begin.

Fabio I'm not here to be nice, when somebody post "let's shoot those idiots down" or Let's call FAA....I know that you will be mad about the post but I want to show you how easy is to give somebody a perception of danger also when it is not true.I know that flight simulator is a nice hobby but maybe isn

Giorgio,As an R/C competition sailplane and R/W glider pilot I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt... until your last post. Now I've come to see you as the menace to the airways that you are. Hopefully the FAA will shut you down before anybody gets hurt.The simple fact that you are just as entitled to the airways as anybody else is not enough. Failing to coordinate your efforts with others (through the FAA and airspace control) will only lead to disaster. Maynard Hill and his group had great coordination with the FAA and others when he set his world record oh so many years ago. You, I fear, feel that you can do whatever you want simply because the airways are open below 18,000'. It doesn't work that way.I'd be curious too to know what the AMA thinks of your "adventures".Here's to hoping that your liability insurance is paid up,Greg