On Sunday, April 27, 2014 7:51:01 AM UTC-7, wrote:
I've never understood the logic of flying radio controlled aircraft in the area of millions of dollars of perfect and easily damaged sailplanes!

As an avid radio control sailplane pilot (and full size, too) I can assure you that radio controlled aircraft are subject to radio interference, mechanical failure...etc, etc.

One day, something will happen....


While I'm all for caution and due care, I'm pretty sure the greatest risk of damage to one of these beautiful gliders comes when the pilot gets in and takes a tow...

Modern multi-rotor helicopters are GPS, accelerometer and baro-stabilized and can be autonomously guided so radio interference is less of an issue. Multirotors with more than 4 props can even tolerate losing a prop by entering a fail-safe mode and most can return to their launch point (within a foot or two!) and land themselves automatically.

Why risk it? I think these airborne videos are a great way to help promote the sport and I am fine with it as long as reasonable precautions are taken and the pilot has a minimum level of experience with the system.

9B