# FAA rules - whats the difference in a RC model Plane and a Drone?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-rules-whats-the-difference-in-a-rc-model-plane-and-a-drone/642321>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 27, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-rules-whats-the-difference-in-a-rc-model-plane-and-a-drone/642321 "2012-11-27T23:07:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-rules-whats-the-difference-in-a-rc-model-plane-and-a-drone/642321/41 "2012-11-28T16:16:37Z")

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[http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/08/news/la-pn-faa-drones-us-airspace-20120308](http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/08/news/la-pn-faa-drones-us-airspace-20120308)

[http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/10/nation/la-na-drone-arrest-20111211](http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/10/nation/la-na-drone-arrest-20111211)

[http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/07/207\_drones\_operating\_in\_us\_air\_space.html](http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/07/207_drones_operating_in_us_air_space.html)

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**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-rules-whats-the-difference-in-a-rc-model-plane-and-a-drone/642321/42 "2012-11-28T16:28:06Z")

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> [@VunderBob](#):
>
> The technical difference between an R/C model and a drone is that an R/C is a remotely piloted aircraft, while a drone flies autonomously; there is no human in the control loop for a drone.
> 
> Of course, to the non-technical press and most lay people, the distinction is splitting the finest of hairs. ‘No pilot onboard? It’s a drone…’

So the [MQ-1 Predator](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MQ-1_Predator) is not a drone?

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**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-rules-whats-the-difference-in-a-rc-model-plane-and-a-drone/642321/43 "2012-11-28T16:35:54Z")

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“Drone” is probably a bad term here. A drone probably doesn’t have a pilot, but the UASs the FAA is allowing in the national airspace do have pilots on the ground.

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