Are You an RC Nuisance?

At first blush (did I just write that? my wife is rubbing off on me), uh hum, I mean when I first read some comments in a blog my wife pointed out to me I wanted to give that fellow a piece of my mind -- and not a nice piece. He was ranting on and on about some inconsiderate guy with his silly remote controlled airplane flying around and around in circles for hours and disturbing the quiet of his otherwise peaceful neighborhood. He went further, suggesting that it was both a silly and environmentally unfriendly hobby and a waste of money, etc. Touchy.

But as off-base as I think he was, there are some good points. Hobby-grade RCs, especially nitro RCs can be noisy. Not everyone is as mesmerized by the buzz as we RC enthusiasts. When you're running your RC in your own neighborhood -- nitro or electric -- show some consideration for the neighbors. Middle of the day is usually OK unless you know that the guy next door sleeps days and works nights -- be kind and take your RC to a track, airfield, or a park.

Check with your local authorities about noise ordinances and any laws that might apply to where and when you can run your RC -- even on your own property. Don't be an RC nuisance.

Related issues:

• Choose a safe flying area
• Choose a safe area for RC cars and trucks

Have you had run-ins with neighbors over where and when you operate your RC? Was it the noise they objected to or something else? How did you resolve the issue? I'd like to hear about it in the comments, below.