# About those RC quad copter drones... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 1, 2015, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493 "2015-02-01T05:15:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/21 "2015-02-01T18:56:23Z")
Little drones from hobby stores are considered aircraft and the box you stand on when flying it are aircraft facilities and your home where you keep it??? WOW !!! You can fly without getting a license? When were these declared an aircraft that would be covered in this law? I be cornfussed… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/22 "2015-02-01T18:59:09Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > [Andrea Mears](http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregorymcneal/2014/06/10/woman-faces-a-year-in-jail-for-beating-drone-operator-assault-caught-on-video/) faces up to a year in jail for assaulting the _operator_ of a drone. There is a special category for assaulting the operator of a drone that come into play over & above the normal assault of anybody laws? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/23 "2015-02-01T19:22:47Z")
I see armed drones coming to a neighborhood near you. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/24 "2015-02-01T19:27:00Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Not a bright idea.[**18 U.S. Code § 32 - Destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities**](http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/32) I’d be very surprised if those quadcopter toys met the definition of “aircraft” as defined by that law. “sets fire to, damages, destroys, disables, or wrecks any aircraft **in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States or any civil aircraft used, operated, or employed in interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce** ;” ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/25 "2015-02-01T19:50:34Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > There is a special category for assaulting the operator of a drone that come into play over & above the normal assault of anybody laws? > :eek: No, but she attacked him specifically because he was flying a drone & she \*thought \*he was spying on her. In actuality, he was flying up & down the beach at an altitude that almost made it difficult to tell the race/sex of the people on the beach. GoPro’s can shoot some amazing HD video; however, they’re designed for wide-angle shooting & absolutely suck at magnification (telephoto/zoom). If you wanted to get pix of someone on a beach, you’re much better off walking past them with your cell phone recording in video mode than shooting them from a drone. > [@jz78817](#): > > I’d be very surprised if those quadcopter toys met the definition of “aircraft” as defined by that law. They are considered “unmanned aircraft systems”; there is no distinction (that I know of) between the $40 2" toy & something the military uses, like the USAF’s Reaper, which is 66’ wide, 36’ long, & can fire missle(s). ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/26 "2015-02-01T20:32:31Z")
Oh boy! Some court cases about who owns the airspace up to 150’ above private property. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/27 "2015-02-01T21:09:35Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Oh boy! Some court cases about who owns the airspace up to 150’ above private property. Yeah, those cases made me fall right [out of my chair…](https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/4F656CF4C41172963139768496128_37c1c86b648.1.4.15067522805097277846.mp4?versionId=VyAKBbay1707FQDihyGWPmVs1robVyve) ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/28 "2015-02-01T21:11:17Z")
Can you imagine what it will be like when the paparazzi take to these things in mass? ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/29 "2015-02-01T21:39:11Z")
I’d probably use a shoe. The question is how many points do you get? Do you get more points for the big ones because they are bigger or more points for the small ones because they are more difficult to hit? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/30 "2015-02-01T23:42:45Z")
If it is at an altitude that suggests peeping, I am destroying it. To me, that is no different from some pervert with a ladder and a camera peeping in windows. Want your expensive toy in one piece? Keep it out of my yard and away from my windows or I posilutely absotively guarantee it’s destruction. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/31 "2015-02-02T01:14:45Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > : Bolos. [Cybertanks?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolo_%28tank%29) from a slingshot? The SDMB just keeps getting\* stranger…\* ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/32 "2015-02-02T13:28:34Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > [Cybertanks?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolo_%28tank%29) > from a slingshot? > The SDMB just keeps getting\* stranger…\* Sorry, [bolas.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolas) We always called them “bolos” when I was a kid. Although to be fair, an AI-controlled Continental Defense Unit with infinite repeaters would handle the drone situation nicely, but they’re kind of hard on the landscaping. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/33 "2015-02-02T14:02:43Z")
10 ga, BB to BBB, lead shot. I can’t full choke steel so get the lead out! ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/34 "2015-02-02T16:11:45Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > use a goose load. 3" steel BB or BBB. mod or imp. mod choke. I’d imagine any good duck load would work as well. Seriously though; is there any indication that say… a skeet load of #8 wouldn’t do a number on a quad copter drone, or is it more a matter of range? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/35 "2015-02-02T16:28:42Z")
I’d venture range. A drone can’t be any more resiliant than a dove or quail and 8s work fine on them. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/36 "2015-02-02T16:35:25Z")
At the altitudes at which they concern me, I bet you could bring one down with a paintball gun. ---
**Author:** ![CGav8r](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@CGav8r](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CGav8r)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/37 "2015-02-02T16:42:27Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I’d be very surprised if those quadcopter toys met the definition of “aircraft” as defined by that law. > > “sets fire to, damages, destroys, disables, or wrecks any aircraft **in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States or any civil aircraft used, operated, or employed in interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce** ;” Yeah, I don’t think that code covers it, but it looks like the NTSB has ruled that drones are aircraft: [http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2014/12/01/grounded-ntsb-rules-unmanned-drone-an-aircraft-sub](http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2014/12/01/grounded-ntsb-rules-unmanned-drone-an-aircraft-sub) ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/38 "2015-02-02T17:14:19Z")
Serious answer: Goose loads. 3 or 3.5 12 gauge shells. Black Cloud, Kent Steel, Hevi-Shot are all top quality brands. With the right choke, a 90% on-target pattern at 40-50 yards is achievable. Extended range chokes are available, but no matter what, you’d want a waterfowl choke that can stand up to the load you select – especially when you’re using these non-lead BBs. And if you’re doing this out of a pump action - that doesn’t use any of the recoil energy to cycle like a semi-auto - get a nice butt pad to save your shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/39 "2015-02-02T18:02:46Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > If it is at an altitude that suggests peeping, I am destroying it. To me, that is no different from some pervert with a ladder and a camera peeping in windows. Want your expensive toy in one piece? Keep it out of my yard and away from my windows or I posilutely absotively guarantee it’s destruction. “And over here we can see a fine example of “Internet Blowhard”. They are not an endangered species. You may have encountered them yourself in the wild.” I don’t know where you live, Mr A-A, but you fire a shotgun in the city, you’ll get a nice visit from the local police. Of course, you’ll never do anything at all, so this discussion is all academic. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493/40 "2015-02-02T18:19:05Z")
My stepdad got one for Christmas that was $1500 and it transmits and records video in real time. It’s expensive enough that a person would seek compensation, and the video could make it an open and shut case. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-rc-quad-copter-drones/711493.md?page=3)