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

[JoelUpchurch]

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://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/07/207_drones_operating_in_us_air_space.html

[Terminus_Est]

@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 is not a drone?

[Fubaya]

“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.