We are in the Midwest visiting relatives (still). We went to a local park (near Fort Riley/Manhattan/Tuttle Creek), lots of trees, LOTS OF PEOPLE, a lake and sure enough, an Inspire pilot. The forecast was for rain, and tornadoes have been pretty frequent, so winds were erratic, so I didn't even take my P3A out of their house. Anyway, in the middle of a heavily wooded area with an open canopy above, the Inspire pilot lifted off. I watched as he went straight up, and over the trees, and down to the waters edge. Mind you, there are people swimming, boating, fishing, cooking out; everywhere.
I was taking pictures of the flowers, deer, ducks, turtles and killing time. He passes along, and I simply ask, "How do you like your Inspire, flies nice it seems." There was no animosity, no questions about FAA registration. No hint of flying over people. Nothing noted about safety, just a simple compliment on his aircraft.
Next thing I know, he says, "You a F-ing tree F-ing hugger? Got a F-ing problem with me flying my F-ing bird, call your F-ING congressman." I looked at him, bit my tongue, and he kept ranting about people like me being the problem with people having fun. If this is really how people are supposed to promote something like being responsible and promoting the hobby, then I am ashamed to say I own one.
And honestly, I wanted to ask to borrow a fishing line to cast it over the props and wreck it. I am not vindictive, but he was an embarrassment to everyone that is a responsible pilot. If I seem irritated, I was. I guess I could have asked him about his FAA registration, safety over people, and say he was a pervert taking pictures of little kids or something, but I walked away. I did attach a photo of his craft, and this was about the altitude he flew above everything. Sadly, it began to rain and he got it out of the air right after the rain was hitting the water under his bird.
If this is how a lot of people are representing legitimate hobbyists, then I can see why people are getting irritated with drones. On one occasion he was flying right over people playing badminton, and they were waving him away as if to say please move along. Made me glad I didn't take mine with me. I can only wonder what he would have said if someone would have thrown something up and hit it knocking it to the ground. (Can't say I would have blamed them either).
I was taking pictures of the flowers, deer, ducks, turtles and killing time. He passes along, and I simply ask, "How do you like your Inspire, flies nice it seems." There was no animosity, no questions about FAA registration. No hint of flying over people. Nothing noted about safety, just a simple compliment on his aircraft.
Next thing I know, he says, "You a F-ing tree F-ing hugger? Got a F-ing problem with me flying my F-ing bird, call your F-ING congressman." I looked at him, bit my tongue, and he kept ranting about people like me being the problem with people having fun. If this is really how people are supposed to promote something like being responsible and promoting the hobby, then I am ashamed to say I own one.
And honestly, I wanted to ask to borrow a fishing line to cast it over the props and wreck it. I am not vindictive, but he was an embarrassment to everyone that is a responsible pilot. If I seem irritated, I was. I guess I could have asked him about his FAA registration, safety over people, and say he was a pervert taking pictures of little kids or something, but I walked away. I did attach a photo of his craft, and this was about the altitude he flew above everything. Sadly, it began to rain and he got it out of the air right after the rain was hitting the water under his bird.
If this is how a lot of people are representing legitimate hobbyists, then I can see why people are getting irritated with drones. On one occasion he was flying right over people playing badminton, and they were waving him away as if to say please move along. Made me glad I didn't take mine with me. I can only wonder what he would have said if someone would have thrown something up and hit it knocking it to the ground. (Can't say I would have blamed them either).