Recent content by Nfhill

The Mavic Pro 2 has a better camera than the Mavic Pro, but so what? Unless you really know and understand the differences AND know how to take advantage of them, then buying the more expensive camera only gets you more expensive photos with larger file sizes. The most important differences...

Actually, anyone flying a drone today, or any other RC aircraft, is technically required to take, pass, and carry proof of passing, a pilot's knowledge test. This is essentially a license. The only reason we are not already carrying this proof is because the FAA has yet to actually implement...

If you decide to publish your article, please go back and rewrite it. As you posted it, it contains large blocks of text that are formatted as a single paragraph when they should be written as several. As it is, it is very hard to read and your readers will notice the difference. Also...

License and Registration, please. The better question is are you required to show your drone registration. The answer is yes. In the very near, but TPD future, you will also be required to show your pilot's license. The requirement exists today, but the FAA has yet to create the test. Once...

After further review, I'll give you some credit for the 500'agl rule. But, not very much. The vast majority of ultralight vehicles are exempted from the rule. For those ultralights there is no 500' min rule, one is either flying over 'sparely populated' area or over 'congested'. On the other...

Technically, I'd say you are wrong. First, there is no FAR requiring a 500'agl minimum over 'populated' areas. Fixed wing manned aircraft are required to stay 1000'agl min over densely populated areas. Rotor craft don't seem to have any actual minimum. Both are generally restricted to a 500'...

Ultralight aircraft are regulated by FAR 103 and there are no minimum altitude restrictions. It's important for all of us to understand, and accept, that we share the airspace and all of us are expected to look out for other users. It's very unlikely that there is an actual altitude...

The ultralight has the same right to fly as you do. For many ultralight pilots, flying low and slow is a major part of the fun. Keep in mind that some ultralight pilots will actually shut off their engine when gliding so it's important to keep a watch as they may be silent. Just how would you...

The manufacturer's of traditional RC transmitters (AKA controllers) tried selling single stick transmitters some years ago. They worked so well and were so popular that no one makes them anymore. Nick

There are only two ways for the risks to be known. Either one uses past experience to calculate the risk or one performs a rigorous study (backed up by peer review), such as a complicated computer based model, to calculate the actual odds of something undesired happening. As far as I know...

Point 1: RC car on a highway. There are places where manned air traffic is too dense for RC aircraft to be operated safely. If you live near one, you may see manned aircraft at low altitude almost all of the time. But, most of the US and Canada is no where near an airport. Once you are more...

Depends on the rule and the time and location Let's take that 400' rule. The FAA has wanted to limit RC aircraft to below 400' for nearly 30 years, or so. But, manned aircraft are not required to stay above 400' except for fixed wing aircraft in densely populated areas. If I fly at 500' is a...

I'm not an advocate for no rules, but your comparison to driving an RC car on an interstate highway is absolutely absurd! For the vast majority of the US and Canada, one can go months without ever seeing a manned aircraft at low altitudes. One is far more likely to be struck by lightning than...

Whenever threads like this come up, someone will always make a comment about the 'standard 3* glide slope'. That's an interesting number. A three degree glide slope corresponds to a 19 to 1 glide ratio. If one is flying a typical GA aircraft and is on a 3* glide slope when the engine quits...

I appreciate the response, but your answer is not so clear. LAANC clearance is required for flying in controlled airspace and it is my understanding that the purpose of the numbers in those boxes is to indicate the height of the bottom of the controlled airspace. In other words, class G...