Reply to: Anybody here fly model aeroplanes?

[Cliphead]

Yeah, it's a bit different for me, I live about 5 miles from Heathrow!

Ouch! One hard and fast rule, not above 400ft AGL and you won't go wrong unless you're flying so close to approach and departure routes and you shouldn't be flying in controlled airspace anyway.

Perhaps less then a hour's drive will get you sufficiently out of the way as to make it practical. Check out local flying clubs for starters.

[Moscow Mule]

Researched it all, spoke to the CAA, sounded out other intersted parties and it seems there's a large underground scene going on regards FPV ad UAV flying.

Bottom line for me? Fck the CAA and air law, I'll fly responsibly and keep any risk to a realistic minimum. Meanwhile I'll toe the line with basic RC flying as I gain experience and have a lot of fun doing it.

Yeah, it's a bit different for me, I live about 5 miles from Heathrow!

[Cliphead]

TBH though, you live it he back of beyond, who will know?

Researched it all, spoke to the CAA, sounded out other intersted parties and it seems there's a large underground scene going on regards FPV ad UAV flying.

Bottom line for me? Fck the CAA and air law, I'll fly responsibly and keep any risk to a realistic minimum. Meanwhile I'll toe the line with basic RC flying as I gain experience and have a lot of fun doing it.

[Moscow Mule]

I've had a dabble at looking into this for a potential plan b (it looked expensive).

CAA says you can't fly them outside of your sight, so autonomous gps flight is out of the question unless you file all sorts with them.

Haven't got to the bottom of it all yet, and the rules seem to be in a slight state of flux, but they are basically covered as model airplanes and you need to file a flight plan if you're going close to any buildings etc.

TBH though, you live it he back of beyond, who will know?

[Cliphead]

Finally.

Built the AXN Floater jet, bought all the radio gear and tested. Found a local flying club where I can get training, installed the Plane Master simulator and USB transmitter on one of the PC's.

Just about all set to go depending on weather.

Once I can fly this thing I'll get the Skywalker X8 together and post the onboard video.

Actually quite excited about this, the local shop I bought the gear from needs some help with their ecommerce site and the club needs help with their website so putting all this together won't cost me anything.

Not quite the same as flying the real thing but as good as it gets without shelling out for landing fees.

[Lockhouse]

What was interesting was he said it was possible to fly down to Southampton and then over to the Isle of Wight. Well, the Isle of Wight discussion was interesting. He said he'd never done it but as you hit the coast you lose the up air flows and drift slowly across the sea with squeaky pants all the way.

I knew someone that did the IoW crossing by hang glider (he's dead now). You have to be bonkers.

[Troll]

I took delivery of a Skywalker X8

Is it only me that looks at that and wonders about Tony Blairs day to day schedule and a possible plan coming together?


(a mere joke m'lud)

[DodgyAgent]

I've got one. I use it on lefties

[Scoobos]

I used to, its good but it gets very very expensive (Or it did back in the early 00's)

[gingerjedi]

Electric is the way to go these days as both prop and ducted fan have come on leaps and bounds with brushless technology, the old purists don't like it though.

[Cliphead]

If you want some 'stick time' without breaking lots of balsa wood 'Leo's RC Sim' on Android is a great way to learn.

Just tried that out on my tablet

[SupremeSpod]

Good call testing at Machrihanish, I know it well. I did some testing at Woomera in the past

Me too in my old Ferranti days...

[Cliphead]

Take a leaf out of BAe's book and test at Machrihanish/Campbeltown...

Or if you've plenty of money head down to Woomera...

Good call testing at Machrihanish, I know it well. I did some testing at Woomera in the past

[SupremeSpod]

Got all the gear I need sussed but a very good point and something I'm not sure about. I could launch this thing and send it off all the way to Edinburgh via Stirling and back taking video. If the computer detects something going wrong or not enough power to get home it comes back to base and all the way it can be tracked on Google Maps / Earth.

So far I can't find anything about the legality of this although I'll have liability insurance but the horror of bringing down another aircraft cos it got ingested into an engine doesn't bear thinking about. I can program it to stay below the altitude that most private and commercial aircraft fly at and keep it out of controlled airspace but still a high sphincter factor.

Early test flights will be within visual range anyway just to be sure of the tech. It'll probably take the CAA six months to respond with a head scratch regardless.

Take a leaf out of BAe's book and test at Machrihanish/Campbeltown...

Or if you've plenty of money head down to Woomera...

[SupremeSpod]

Just had my first experience with a friends and it's very good fun (I've ordered a replacement ). I took delivery of a Skywalker X8, which when completed will be used for first person view / autonomous flight, recording and sending back live video as it does its thing flying by GPS waypoints. Meanwhile a trainer and all the necessary bits will be here later in the week.

Advice / abuse welcome as always...

Don't fly it over Coulport. It will get shot down.

Oh and be careful which type of GPS you're using. Some/nearly all are designed to shutdown at certain rates of acceleration and increase in altitude. So, if you're after making a "V1", be selective