[gaahrdner]

Long gone are the days of needing only a Technician class radio license to operate FCC uncertified radio and video transmission gear, strapped onto a cheap foam RC plane from China, piloted by a human with nothing more than a controller, video goggles, and an antenna to achieve mile-long distances and thousand foot heights.

THAT was the wild west.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfzBiZUPSo0

[zrobotics]

Plus, we still have part 103 ultralight aircraft. As long as it weighs < 254 lbs and is slow enough, you don't even need to register the darn thing.

Edit: to clarify, these are 'real' aircraft that humans can fly in.

https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/aviation-communities-and-interest...

[carapace]

OMFG so if I can build a thing within these constraints I can fly it?

(1) Weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices which are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation;

(2) Has a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 U.S. gallons;

(3) Is not capable of more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight; and

(4) Has a power-off stall speed which does not exceed 24 knots calibrated airspeed.

God Bless America!

[dmitrygr]

  >  OMFG so if I can build a thing within
  > these constraints I can fly it?

Yes. You need not even build it yourself, you can buy it. eg: powered paragliders

[dreamcompiler]

Powered paragliders look like fun. You can fly from your backyard to McDonald's for lunch and fly back. https://youtu.be/rvQ9DjJNal0

[Merad]

It's been done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNSN6qet1kE

[jcims]

Peter has become some kind of guerilla youtuber. I have seen him on at least six different channels in as many months (most recently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEZCxxKp0hM).

The funny thing is he's about the only one I'd actually like to meet in person. Nothing against the other folks (Mark Rober from above seems really nice), Peter just seems like he'd be fun to hang out with and build something.

[carapace]

So this is how I die...

Worth it. ;-P

[trhway]

my understanding they are trying to fit it into that regulation :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjqR4JAsL1A