Dan Robirds Wrote:
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I wonder how the RC plane/glider hobby
> that has existed for years has dealt with these
> issues?
Hi Dan,
As I noted in my post in another thread, the modern "drone" technology is very different from the RC Airplanes of old. Those really did require a fair amount of skill to fly. They also required a sort of "airport" with close-cut, rolled grass runways. The only way in which the average owner could get access to the facilities and the expert instruction was to join a club that had such assets. The sport was really nicely self-policed. Those who chose to go it on their own generally crashed and burned their investment. Unfortunately, flying is not as intuitive as the movies would have you believe. Whether a real airplane or a model, most people would crash on their first flight unless an instructor were present to save them. Modern "drones" are different. They have internal stablization systems and GPS. They really don't require traditional flying skills. They still require "air sense" however, and that is something that requires both instruction and experience.
If you were in their place, would you
> really be excited about going to all the extra
> effort needed for these special trains after
> reading some of the comments here? Regardless of
> what "rights" we have, the railroads are under no
> legal or moral obligation to allow anyone to
> trespass or to offer to operate any special trains
> or equipment.
Unfortunately, I think this whole thing has been blown totally out of proportion. That is not to minimize Matthew's personal experience or his emotions about what he experienced. Not at all. It is just that this was one, isolated incident, on one shot, during a charter that lasted 3 full days, and included over 30 participants. I think the vast majority of the participants felt that they got their money's worth, they got some pretty images and that they had a good time. I have two more charters at other places coming up in the next few weeks, and I am very much looking forward to more good times.
/Kevin
