This is a little off topic, but I thought others may find my latest blog post of interest.   


Link:
http://deskpilot518.blogspot.de/2014/12/i-got-drone-for-christmas.html

Great post, these drones do look fun!


Although some idiot flew one near Heathrow and nearly hit a BA A320


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30446136


Some of the pilots from work are into their RC planes and fly them nearby, Ive been tempted but seems an expensive hobby!

I've got a diddy one from my missus for Christmas, apparently the world's smallest 3 axis helicopter. Great fun, but I've already crashed in to the top of the kitchen cupboards once so might need to get some guards for it!

Chris H.


Yes, unfortunately one idiot flying a drone near planes does a lot of damage to the hobby!!! 
My blog post was geared towards safe usage of drones... In the US they have been getting a lot of
bad press.   But their is a lot of good uses for drones, there is even an amateur group that uses them
to find missing persons.  (and have already been successful in that endeavor).


Price wise, its not as bad as you think.  A tip from the RC club guys "Don't fly anything you can't afford to lose!"
But the tiny drones like Chris L has are not expensive at all!


Chirs L.
That looks awesome! I have seen some of these tiny drones too.   Really temped to get a tiny one for flying in the house!  Why
fly outside the house when you can happily fly inside it!!! LOl 

Another interesting thing is to compare the two hobbies.  (RC planes and Flight Simulation)
Both use simulation for different reasons.  The RC guys use something such as Real Flight that comes with a controller you
plug into the computer.  Then using flight simulation software, they learn and practice maneuvers.  (Or just have fun).
I am using Real Flight Basic to practice flying a basic trainer plane and to see how many helicopters I can crash.   

Bill