I know it's satisfying, but isn't it illegal to shoot one down?
No. and yes... if it's illegal to shoot a weapon for public safety reasons then that applies, or it's illegal to damage someone else's property if that property is not on your property.
Those who say drones are aircraft and that's why they are illegal to shoot down are incorrect. The key to understanding this is FAA classification.
If a drone or other flying object is protected it is also required to be registered with FAA, a license is needed, often insurance is required, you are taxed on the property, can't fly below 500', must provide flight plans, etc.
The FAA instead classifies toy drones as "model aircraft" which don't have these stipulations but aren't allowed above 400' altitude, have very little regulations in place (yet, except some areas have enacted legal code to deal with invasion of privacy/etc), and can be legally shot down in any situation where it would be legal to shoot a remote control model car.
^ Sure but those are different violations not necessary to have a drone involved. The guy was charged with wanton endangerment and criminal mischief for firing a shotgun in a residential area. Might as well have been a Frisbee he shot down.
I tend to be an anti-gun type of person for the most part (few places and circumstances I can see as being necessary), but a serious quadcopter with a HD camera is not not a frisbee. It should not be allowed in other people's backyard or for that matter videoing stuff off of an apartment building window.
Let's say someone is sun-bathing by their pool in the noode. Should someone be allowed to video them?
I tend to be an anti-gun type of person for the most part (few places and circumstances I can see as being necessary), but a serious quadcopter with a HD camera is not not a frisbee. It should not be allowed in other people's backyard or for that matter videoing stuff off of an apartment building window.
Let's say someone is sun-bathing by their pool in the noode. Should someone be allowed to video them?
I tend to be an anti-gun type of person for the most part (few places and circumstances I can see as being necessary), but a serious quadcopter with a HD camera is not not a frisbee. It should not be allowed in other people's backyard or for that matter videoing stuff off of an apartment building window.
Let's say someone is sun-bathing by their pool in the noode. Should someone be allowed to video them?
Your frisbee isn't allowed to be intentionally placed on someone else's property either. Even if a drone isn't recording it is not allowed to be intentionally flown on property you haven't secured rights to operate on.
The usual standard is that if something is visible from outside the (3rd party) property, if you are flying within the property owner's airspace with their permission then it's fair game to record.
An exception in some areas is peering into windows with the height advantage a drone provides, even if the drone is on (above) your property. Some communities deem needing to be elevated into an otherwise unoccupied location violates an expectation of privacy.
I wouldn't be surprised if we soon see some anti-drone products that are basically a cannon that throws a fishing net payload. That seems like one of the least lethal ways to bring one down without using either a fire hose or violating FCC regulations by jamming applicable airwaves which wouldn't even be effective until you notice the drone and some now have a return-to-base feature if comm is cut off which decreases owner hesitation from fear of losing track of their expensive toy.
This probably works better than the helicopters, which can be entertaining. I can't see how the propellers are held up on these. The copters used ultra-thin plastic, which was junk.
> a serious quadcopter with a HD camera is not not a frisbee. It should not be allowed in other people's backyard or for that matter videoing stuff off of an apartment building window.
why are people so paranoid?
most of these things have gopros or other fisheye cameras that unless they are 2 feet away you won't see **** anyway, the idea of them spying is ridiculous and weird, but so many people are convinced of it.
you aren't that interesting, nobody is going to spend effort or money to get a video of you. Even if you were a hot naked 20 year old woman, a shaky fisheye video from a toy copter flying 100 feet or more away would be absolutely useless anyway.
most of these things have gopros or other fisheye cameras that unless they are 2 feet away you won't see baconnaise anyway, the idea of them spying is ridiculous and weird, but so many people are convinced of it.
you aren't that interesting, nobody is going to spend effort or money to get a video of you.
You haven't seen all the very HQ drone videos on youtube? Granted, one capable of good 720p or higher will usually set you back $400+.
People may not be "that interesting" but there will always be peeping toms, nosy neighbors, and then there are those who are up to something illegal. You are welcome to waive your right to privacy but cannot waive it for someone else. I'd assume 9 out of 10 drone owners didn't buy one to only fly it on their own property.
You haven't seen all the very HQ drone videos on youtube? Granted, one capable of good 720p or higher will usually set you back $400+.
Yep, very high def.
fisheye video of landscapes and clouds. Any people that you can even make out are usually the ones lauching the drone and are shot from a few feet away if you want to see them at all.
I'd assume 9 out of 10 drone owners didn't buy one to only fly it on their own property.
yes, most people buy "drones" to watch you drink beers in your back yard. You figured it out. ;)
Mine died after several flights. 2 motors seem flakey.. if I hold it and apply throttle they tend to stop and or slow down randomly. This means it does not fly very good..
It sucks.. because I was just getting the hang of flying it and starting to like this little guy. I have a feeling I will not get any support or replacement from the company.
Comments & Reviews (21)
Don't have to worry about shooting this one down. It is so small and lightweight it wouldn't fly outside anyway.
No. and yes... if it's illegal to shoot a weapon for public safety reasons then that applies, or it's illegal to damage someone else's property if that property is not on your property.
Those who say drones are aircraft and that's why they are illegal to shoot down are incorrect. The key to understanding this is FAA classification.
If a drone or other flying object is protected it is also required to be registered with FAA, a license is needed, often insurance is required, you are taxed on the property, can't fly below 500', must provide flight plans, etc.
The FAA instead classifies toy drones as "model aircraft" which don't have these stipulations but aren't allowed above 400' altitude, have very little regulations in place (yet, except some areas have enacted legal code to deal with invasion of privacy/etc), and can be legally shot down in any situation where it would be legal to shoot a remote control model car.
http://petapixel.com/2015/08/19/this-new-shotgun-shell-is-for-shooting-down-drones/
Let's say someone is sun-bathing by their pool in the noode. Should someone be allowed to video them?
Depends on gender and hotness.
Your frisbee isn't allowed to be intentionally placed on someone else's property either. Even if a drone isn't recording it is not allowed to be intentionally flown on property you haven't secured rights to operate on.
The usual standard is that if something is visible from outside the (3rd party) property, if you are flying within the property owner's airspace with their permission then it's fair game to record.
An exception in some areas is peering into windows with the height advantage a drone provides, even if the drone is on (above) your property. Some communities deem needing to be elevated into an otherwise unoccupied location violates an expectation of privacy.
I wouldn't be surprised if we soon see some anti-drone products that are basically a cannon that throws a fishing net payload. That seems like one of the least lethal ways to bring one down without using either a fire hose or violating FCC regulations by jamming applicable airwaves which wouldn't even be effective until you notice the drone and some now have a return-to-base feature if comm is cut off which decreases owner hesitation from fear of losing track of their expensive toy.
why are people so paranoid?
most of these things have gopros or other fisheye cameras that unless they are 2 feet away you won't see **** anyway, the idea of them spying is ridiculous and weird, but so many people are convinced of it.
you aren't that interesting, nobody is going to spend effort or money to get a video of you. Even if you were a hot naked 20 year old woman, a shaky fisheye video from a toy copter flying 100 feet or more away would be absolutely useless anyway.
You haven't seen all the very HQ drone videos on youtube? Granted, one capable of good 720p or higher will usually set you back $400+.
People may not be "that interesting" but there will always be peeping toms, nosy neighbors, and then there are those who are up to something illegal. You are welcome to waive your right to privacy but cannot waive it for someone else. I'd assume 9 out of 10 drone owners didn't buy one to only fly it on their own property.
Yep, very high def.
fisheye video of landscapes and clouds. Any people that you can even make out are usually the ones lauching the drone and are shot from a few feet away if you want to see them at all.
yes, most people buy "drones" to watch you drink beers in your back yard. You figured it out. ;)
Just got mine the other day and one of the motors gave out on second flight. Might be better off folding a $20 into a plane. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhhcP4cpyS8
It sucks.. because I was just getting the hang of flying it and starting to like this little guy. I have a feeling I will not get any support or replacement from the company.
Thank you!