At what point does an rc aircraft become a done? Some rc aircraft have a camera in the cockpit that gives the pilot a pilot’s point of view but in doing so the pilot doesn’t have visual line of sight with the aircraft. Some rc aircraft also have a range to fly out of sight of the pilot so at what point does an rc aircraft become a drone or does it not at all? Thanks in advance.
Rita
The main differences between drones and RC planes are in the way they are controlled and the way they are put into use. ... When compared to an RC plane, a drone is more specialized in the way it is controlled and in its applications.
Billy
RC is for fun. Drone is for work. RC have also been used for work going back decades. RC have even been used to smuggle drugs across the Mexican border. Drones usually do not have pilots. But F102 and F106 Jet Interceptors worked just fine with dead pilots on board. I would think the same is true for F22 and F35 but no one will be talking. DARPA has or is working on semi-autonomous and autonomous drones that think for themselves.
USAFisnumber1
TOY drones can hover, go sideways, go backwards. They fly due to pure power of the rotor blades. An RC aircraft other than the ones that look like Helicopters have to go forward to stay up, the lift comes from the wings.
Old Man Dirt
A drone is a pilotless aircraft according to the FAA. Which includes fixed wing and rotating wing aircraft that is unmanned and controlled either remotely or by programing. I am pretty sure the FAA regulations apply for lighter then aircraft that is remote controlled.
In the RC industry the difference is different. There are RC helicopters, RC airplanes, RC dirigibles, RC non-dirigibles and drones. With drones having three or more rotating horizontal wings.
The FAA bans any drone which is not flown by line of sight by a hobbyist. They are to be in sight at all times. It does not matter what the hobby industry calls it!
To fly a remote aircraft with other then line of sight control demands special licensing for the pilot and the aircraft.
Mr. Smartypants
The ability to fly autonomously is what makes a drone a drone. You can create a 'mission' by compiling a list of waypoints, and once you start it the aircraft will fly the predetermined route all on its own. I think 'drone' is a very unfortunate choice of words for that, but that's the word we use..
The great majority of drones are quadcopters (I guess 'drone' is easier to say) but there are fixed-wing drones also, in fact you can buy a control board with a GPS that is carried in the aircraft and will convert any RC aircraft into a drone.