Cal Club Autocross Forums

Problem solved. "I'm not flying it, it has a mind of it's own. It just happened by and decided to watch us for a while."
http://magicseaweed.com/news/airdog-is- ... rone/6443/

Heh, that strikes me as just about as likely as Amazon drone-delivering boxes to my front porch.

Related content -- I just flew my new hexacopter first time this morning. Sweet. Big. Still in one piece.

And someone was seen flying a small quad at the SCCA national rallycross this weekend. (Post track action.) No jack-booted thugs came marching in.

Bill Martin wrote: No jack-booted thugs came marching in.

I must have already goose-stepped home.



Jay W

Technically they aren't really drones. The term drone comes from the press for not knowing what they are talking about. A drone was a simple stupid term for aerial practice shooting. Basically the drone would be launched on a straight flight path, then destroyed by a manned fighter or SAM sight. The term for the vehicles used today are known as UAV's "unmanned air vehicle" agreed that statement describes a drone, but a UAV is flown on missions and returns home via a manned pilot in an undisclosed location. The only difference with a UAV and a manned plane, is the UAV pilot is not physically in the UAV.

FYI only

dihrdzr wrote:Technically they aren't really drones. The term drone comes from the press for not knowing what they are talking about. A drone was a simple stupid term for aerial practice shooting. Basically the drone would be launched on a straight flight path, then destroyed by a manned fighter or SAM sight. The term for the vehicles used today are known as UAV's "unmanned air vehicle" agreed that statement describes a drone, but a UAV is flown on missions and returns home via a manned pilot in an undisclosed location. The only difference with a UAV and a manned plane, is the UAV pilot is not physically in the UAV.

FYI only

The irony is that some people are "drones". Does that mean, then, that they are "unmanned" as well?

It really is too bad they aren't allowed, there are a few out now that you can have follow you on their own with set angle/direction recording. It would make for really great video.

Some nice footage here showing what can be done: https://www.facebook.com/jaimeaguirreco ... 7700681171

Check out this little autonomous UAV

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sq ... ial-camera

Ed Holley wrote:

Mike Simanyi wrote:The only way they are allowed is if (1) the drone operator has FAA certification to operate the drone and...
Mike

If the SCCA, or even SoCal Solo wants to outlaw them, they should just say "not allowed". Period.
But relating to FAA, there is no certification possible or required by the FAA. They are totally legal for "recreational" purposes, as long as flown below 400 feet, and sufficiently away from populated areas and full scale aircraft.

Completely rational position for the SCCA. Interestingly enough they avoided the current real drag on small drone use in urban areas, above even liability and that is privacy and the need for model releases from those that have been imaged. ACLU has pending litigation that will eventually clarify those issues, but these are non-trivial issues. Hobbyist have gotten somewhat a break, but that doesn't mean they are free and clear.

As far as safety that little quad copter is fine unless it comes in contact with the driver of a speeding Kart or Convertible.

dihrdzr wrote:Technically they aren't really drones. The term drone comes from the press for not knowing what they are talking about. A drone was a simple stupid term for aerial practice shooting. Basically the drone would be launched on a straight flight path, then destroyed by a manned fighter or SAM sight. The term for the vehicles used today are known as UAV's "unmanned air vehicle" agreed that statement describes a drone, but a UAV is flown on missions and returns home via a manned pilot in an undisclosed location. The only difference with a UAV and a manned plane, is the UAV pilot is not physically in the UAV.

FYI only

DoD's & FAA current preference is Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/

Rick Brown wrote:

Will Kalman wrote:What do the FAA and the SCCA care if I play my bagpipes at an event?

Being of Scottish descent, I wouldn't mind, but others may find the "music" to be distracting, thus a safety hazard.

I don't know - the correct song piped into a helmet radio just might get me into the grove! No puns intended...

What about people that just drone on? Are they prohibited now too?

My car Drones between 2500-2800, can I still bring it? ;)

Bill Schenker wrote:What about people that just drone on? Are they prohibited now too?

Apparently not.

BTW, When and IF we ever return, when would you be able to drive my "putt-putt" and "wipe wax on, wipe wax off"?

Some interesting info from Paul Durr, a karter from Vegas:

"FAA has gone nuts and issued an interpretation on model aircraft use that essentially treats them as full sized aircraft and regulates them as soon as they leave the ground. A public comment period is in affect.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/"

Rick Brown wrote:Some interesting info from Paul Durr, a karter from Vegas:

"FAA has gone nuts and issued an interpretation on model aircraft use that essentially treats them as full sized aircraft and regulates them as soon as they leave the ground. A public comment period is in affect.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/"

It all happens little by little until one day........poof.......a person realizes that the freedom we once enjoyed has been legislated or regulated away. Too bad we don't all realize it at the same time so we can do something about it.

George Schilling wrote:

Rick Brown wrote:Some interesting info from Paul Durr, a karter from Vegas:

"FAA has gone nuts and issued an interpretation on model aircraft use that essentially treats them as full sized aircraft and regulates them as soon as they leave the ground. A public comment period is in affect.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/"

It all happens little by little until one day........poof.......a person realizes that the freedom we once enjoyed has been legislated or regulated away. Too bad we don't all realize it at the same time so we can do something about it.

+1000

It's called "Independence Limited"

Mike Simanyi wrote:As cool as it was to see that, the SCCA now has an official position and it effectively means we can't have drones at events

Does anyone have a link to an official SCCA statement on this I can point people to?

Jay W

Jayson Woodruff wrote:Does anyone have a link to an official SCCA statement on this I can point people to? Jay W

http://www.solomatters.com/dont_drone_m ... _at_events

Rick Brown wrote:

Will Kalman wrote:What do the FAA and the SCCA care if I play my bagpipes at an event?

Being of Scottish descent, I wouldn't mind, but others may find the "music" to be distracting, thus a safety hazard.

Wait. What? Did someone say safety hazard?!

Craig Naylor wrote:

Jayson Woodruff wrote:Does anyone have a link to an official SCCA statement on this I can point people to? Jay W

http://www.solomatters.com/dont_drone_m ... _at_events

Thanks Craig.

Jay W