RC Aircraft - at what point do you have to call the CAA?

[wildcat45]

The thread about the RC helicopters got me thinking. There are some fantastic RC models out there, fixed wing rotary.

At what point does a model like this tecnically become a aircraft or UAV? Something the size of the Hind featured in the other thread could easily bring down a light aircraft or something small and fast if it hit it in the right place.

So what's the score - do some big models require contact with ATC or the CAA.

Also another question I have wondered for ages. What are the ragnes of these things. How far way before the radio signal is lost (taking into account hills and all that) and what happens when the signal is lost? Does it just crash or carry on with the last command it got?

How high can model Aircraft fly?

[dr_gn]

Short answer, 20kg.

Long answer:

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP658.PDF

[wildcat45]

Cheers for that.

[Rude-boy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfkyp89LLTE

These chaps might need to call someone first then