Kürzlich ging der erste Transatlantikflug eines Flugmodells (<5 kg) zu Ende.

http://tam.plannet21.com/

Unglaublich!

Oliver

Hierzu die folgende Meldung:

Senators from New York and New Jersey Call for Increased Regulation of Model
Airplanes

WASHINGTON DC (BS) - In a hastily convened news conference, two Senators
from New York and New Jersey called for increased regulation of model
airplanes. This was in response to a new world's record being set on Monday
by a 11 pound, GPS guided model aircraft that flew non-stop from
Newfoundland, Canada to Ireland on about five and a half pounds of fuel.
Flying at 500 feet altitude at a speed of around 40 miles per hour, the
model airplane periodically sent its position and other information via a
satellite link to the airplane builders on both sides of the Atlantic. The
progress of the record making flight was posted to the internet and followed
by thousands of people in North America and Europe.

Standing next to a large, somewhat beat up model airplane, the two Senator's
stated: "This just proves that we must control who sells model airplane fuel
and who buys it. Its now possible for terrorists inside and outside our
borders to bomb our citizens at will, guided by our own military navigation
satellites. No one is safe from terrorist model airplanes and their deadly
cargoes of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons."

Noting that a commercial GPS receiver was used as the position input to the
autopilot, the Senator from New York called for restrictions on the
production and licensing of GPS receivers that could output data in any
form. "After all, this system was designed by the Department of Defense for
military purposes, and funded by the American people. This GPS technology,
if in the wrong hands, could spell disaster for the free world. Its ironic
that our own DoD systems could be used against us" he stated. "We must
prevent that from happening at all costs".

During a question and answer period, the Senators said they had been tipped
off to this urgent development by an "unnamed source at the Department of
Justice", whom also provided the model airplane on display which was "Fished
out of a trash dumpster by an unnamed undercover agent in an unnamed area
where there are unnamed terrorist cells backed by unnamed terrorist
organizations financed by unnamed foreign individuals in unnamed foreign
locations".

Word of the successful North Atlantic flight was corroborated by a very
reliable source at high levels within the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms,
and Explosives. When pressed about licensing of model airplane
fuel, apparently the BATFE official declined to volunteer his agency citing
"recent dramatic increases in field and licensing center workloads". But,
he did suggest that the Federal Aviation Administration could use their aircraft
maintenance inspectors to perform this vital function.

"However, the good news is the high ranking BATFE official promised in the
spirit of government partnership to see what he could do about adding model
airplane fuel to their "special list" without having to go through all that
unnecessary and time consuming notice of proposed rule making stuff, and we
view that as a very positive and supportive response in the fight against
terrorism" said the New Jersey Senator. As a matter of fact, we are
thinking seriously about increasing their appropriation next year.

The BATFE official also suggested that special 10 gauge steel storage
containers with five tumbler high security locks be required to ensure the
security of this "previously unregulated highly flammable and extremely
dangerous toxic substance", and that the containers be inspected yearly for
compliance. The New Jersey Senator went on to state "However, in the
interests of being fair and easing the regulatory burden, we are prepared to
allow the storage of up to two ounces of model airplane fuel without a special
high security storage container, as long as the airplane fuel cannot be
physically poured into a model airplane fuel tank with a capacity of more
than two ounces. Everyone agrees this is a reasonable risk tradeoff, and in
fact it is being quite generous in this high threat environment. All that
remains to be solved is the engineering problem".

The Senator from New York added that his staff had posted a special page on
his web site containing information "gotten off the internet" which details
how liquids such as model airplane fuel could be used to make firebombs out
of pop bottles and rags. "We ought to be calling for more regulation of all
flammable liquids, not less!" he stated. "And the New York City Fire Chief
is all for it!"

A member of the crowd pointed out that there were already state and Federal
laws with severe penalties for illegal acts involving flammable liquids,
such as arson and terrorist actions in general. He also pointed out that
the government's own data showed model airplane fuel was not used in
firebombings. The Senator from New York replied that "in these troubled times, people need to
accept regulation of perfectly harmless things so as to reassure the
greater voting public that their elected officals are doing everything
to assist global terrorists in their goal. It is for your own good and our
collective peace of mind".

At that point a few hecklers were forcibly removed.

After a short break, the Senator from New Jersey also stated he had
contacted a senior level FAA official about starting the new "Model Airplane
Patriot Pilot and Fuel Licensing Program", which would require
fingerprints, a photo, a full background check, a personal interview, and a
nominal $100 fee, and a 3 to 6 month waiting period while the paperwork was
being processed. The Senator stated "Unfortunately, the response from the
FAA was not a warm one", and as a result they planned to take this urgent
action to the full Senate as soon as the summer recess was over.

Asked if there was bound to be any resistance in committee or on the floor,
the Senator from New York chimed "There are a couple of unpatriotic
colleagues out in the western states that will probably resist this urgent
action, but hey, those guys would object to New York taxes and bridge tolls,
too. They will undoubtedly get a poorly staffed letter drafted by a junior
BATFE attorney who doesn't understand the issues, and it will be signed by
one of John Ashcroft's deputies who is also too uninformed to know he should
send it back for correction. If he ever figures it out after the fact he
will be professionally embarrassed. Oh well, the letter is really for
effect anyway and we don't really expect them to pay much attention to it."

"As a matter of fact" he continued, "the FAA may try and end-run us on this
one and find a couple of sympathetic Republican legislators on the West
Coast to stage a press conference and get an article in the LA Times. Yes,
we all know Federal Agencies aren't supposed to lobby Congress, but you know
how those guys can be sometimes!"

In response to a follow-on question from a New York Times correspondent
about GPS data, the Senator from New Jersey clarified "What we are talking
about is making sure GPS cant be used by the bad guys, and yes, that means
you can still buy a $90 GPS at Wal-Mart but the display and any other data
output will not work until you receive a special registered electronic token
issued by the FBI". We are proposing a new GPS program that will not be
burdensome, "All it will take is fingerprints, a photo, a full background
check, a personal interview, and a nominal $100 fee, and a 3 to 6 month
waiting period while the paperwork is processed". He quickly added "When
not in use, only the GPS token will be required to be locked in at least a
Class 3 safe to prevent theft, there will be no need to lock up the GPS
itself". This program "will ensure the legitimate needs of hikers and other
GPS users are met while fully protecting the public".

Breaking from the usual journalistic restraint, the New York Times
correspondent commented "Senators, your new program sounds extremely
reasonable, and will certainly ensure the protection of all patriotic
Americans". Chuckling, the Senator from New Jersey remarked "Now that
sounds to me like a great editorial disguised as a news".

The Senator from New York stated "Folks, really, we are being quite generous
in our proposed program And more importantly, at this point our
constituents are under the impression that through our highly aggressive and
very visible actions in the area of regulating model airplanes and GPS units
sold at Wal-Mart that we are actually making real, substantial progress in
the world-wide battle against terrorism. I am sure you will all agree".

Wrapping up the news conference, the Senator from New Jersey stated "Please
note that we are still allowing an unlimited amount of magnetic compasses
and long rubber bands for windup model airplanes to be sold, purchased, and
stored without a license. That covers about 97% of the Boy Scouts and about
80% of the model airplanes flown. We think that is quite reasonable."

Copyright 2003 BS. All rights reserved.

Hi,

das sieht dann ja wohl so aus, das bald jeder in den USA eine Waffe kaufen kann, aber ein Modellflugzeug nur noch als Tischmodell vetrieben werden darf. Wobei da paßt doch eine Kamera rein ...

Gruß

Neil

Hallo Oliver,

Du als angehender Luft- und Raumfahrtprofi solltest doch mal eine kleine Plausibilitätsrechnung machen können (11 pound Airplane (sinnvolle Schätzung f. Luftwiderstand?), 40 mph, 5,5 amerik. Pounds of fuel (Energieinhalt??))

Ich habe da so meine Zweifel, daß der "Bericht" einen wahren Hintergrund hat. Ich glaube eher, daß da einer sich einen Spaß macht, auf der US Anti-Terorism-Welle zu reiten um die Absurdität des gegenwärtigen Aktionismus' aufzuzeigen...

Hi,

du mußt noch viel mehr berücksichtigen. Hatte er Rückenwind oder Gegenwind. Was für einen Motor war da eingebaut. Ein normaler Motor kann es nicht gewesen sein, der würde sich den Sprit in zwei oder drei Stunden antun, und dann wäre das Teil erstmal 120 Meilen weit gekommen.
Ich halte es aber schon für möglich das so eine Action machbar wäre. Komisch finde ich es nur, das die Bilder des Flugzeuges zeigen, aber nicht wie es dadrin aussieht. Mich hätte da der kleine Computer interessiert.

Gruß

Neil

Dass das Flugzeug wirklich über den Atlantik geflogen ist (also der Link ganz oben), glaube ich wirklich. Aber rechnen wir mal nach:

5,5 lbs = 2492 g
Brennwert von Superbenzin 42 kJ/g
Gesamtbrennwert 2492 g * 42 kJ/g = 104,6 MJ
Auftrieb 11 lbs * 4,44 N/lbs = 48,84 N (jetzt mal nur das leere Flugzeug)
Ein Flugzeug hat vielleicht ein c_a/c_w-Verhältnis von 10 (konservativer Wert, IIRC)
Widerstand 48,84 N / 10 = 4,884 N
Geleistete Arbeit gegen den Widerstand 4,884 N * 1600 mls. * 1609 m/ml. = 12,57 MJ
Wirkungsgrad 12,57 MJ / 104,6 MJ = 12 %
Das ist IMHO für einen 4-Takt-Ottomotor nicht unrealistisch, üblicherweise werden 20-25 % angegeben
Der hat dabei außerdem über 40 h eine (mechanische) Durchschnitts-Leistung von 12,57 MJ / 144000 s = 87,3 W erbracht

Oliver