Hobby King! Really!?!?!

[cml001]

Ok, so this just came across my FB feed.. Bad enough it is what it is.. But look at the bottom right corner of the screen... HobbyKing logo.. Seriously!?!?! F'n lame!
https://www.facebook.com/thomas.mccalpi ... 0320369372

[cml001]

I've only purchased from them a few times.. Never again tho! This is the kind of crap that's got us in the situation were r in now... Pissed!

[Graham Lawrie]

Is it HK or someone using the Logo?

[Derek]

That's gotta be just some moron's build. I can't honestly believe that HK would endorse this. Major idiots!!!

I'm trying to find the original video so that I can get the URL. I've reported it to Facebook and I'd like to report it to HK.


about 10 minutes later, I've found the original video. I'm going to send this to HK.

[Graham Lawrie]

So is it a HK one Derek or as i suspected?

[Derek]

If I had to guess, Graham...I'd say that the video is not from HK. I say that for a few reasons:

1. I can't believe that HK would do something like this and then post it
2. The original post is said to come from Huntley, Illinois, USA. HK has two US warehouses, Arkansas and Washington, and they have a New York based video studio. Nothing in Illinois.

To me, this just looks like, at least, 1 moron outside doing something very dumb and very illegal. I did report this to Facebook, Break.com, YouTube, and HK. I hope it gets removed and maybe, just maybe, someone can track down the moron and give him some corrective measures. It's a bunch of crap that I have to register myself with the FAA because of people like this. It's bad enough that the person built the quad for this purpose, but it's even worse that he posted it on YouTube.

[pvolcko]

The video is not from HK, but the guy who built it claims that he was sponsored by HK (they provided the quad parts). I have not heard if HK has confirmed or denied this. I image that they were asked about it by many people and likely didn't bother answering, hoping to let the whole thing die down. The video has been out for a month or more now, I think.

[pvolcko]

BTW, this was the same person that strapped a glock to a quad and did a video of live fire with the gun back a year ago or so.

[cml001]

Really? Didn't that guys get fined or something?

[pvolcko]

No. What he did wasn't illegal. Mind blowingly stupid. But not illegal.

With the gun I'm kind of surprised it wasn't illegal. Remote fired guns, particularly on an unsafe "platform" such as a quad, seems like there is potential for poorly aimed shots, sending rounds a mile or more away, etc. I'm surprised there isn't a local/state law against that. But perhaps so long as no shot actually did go awry it was not able to be prosecuted.

The flame thrower. Less risky to people at distance, arguably far more risky to those in the immediate area. I'm not surprised there aren't laws against it though. And I don't think there should be. As I said on a FB post, there is a whole universe of stupid things people can do that are not illegal. We can't make them all illegal and shouldn't try. You punish those inflict harm on others, regardless of the means the harm was inflicted.

[Derek]

Yeah Paul...you're right. The flamethrower craft isn't illegal but it's very much against the AMA Safety Code

"Model aircraft pilots will:

(i) Not operate model aircraft carrying pyrotechnic devices that explode or burn, or any device which propels a projectile or drops any object that creates a hazard to persons or property."

We'll just leave this as a very stupid, dangerous, and disrespectful idea and I hope that I never see one like this in person.

[murankar]

If he is not a member then the rules don't apply. Is thus kid an ama registered pilot?

[Derek]

If he is not a member then the rules don't apply. Is thus kid an ama registered pilot?

Just a guess.....probably not.

[pvolcko]

We have no idea if the guy is a member of AMA or not. Even if he is, this was obviously done on private property and any liability coverage would have been waived by the flagrant violation of basic AMA safety rules.

That said, I've been a number of demonstration flights involving mounted fireworks, smoke grenades, etc. and this is at AMA sanctioned events. For instance, the ONE competition allowed smoke pyro devices this year, which is held on the AMA HQ fields.

[Derek]

According to the AMA Safety Code, smoke cartridges are allowed.

[cml001]

Well, with the new FAA regulations & public registration... We should know exactly who he is! See.. His FAA # is right there on the multi rotor frame. Lol.. Bastards!

[pvolcko]

heh. That's about the only way they'd be able to get him, now. Of course if he registers it, then the FAA in on the hook for legally registering a flying flame thrower and flying glock. Which is kind of funny.

[cml001]

Lol, I know right!

[Derek]

I did email HK yesterday morning about this. I got a reply back from them last night. Here is the email from HK:

Hi Derek,

Greetings!

Thank you for contacting us! We appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention. Our management is fully aware of this issue due to other customers have had raised this matter to us. This has been forwarded to our management for necessary actions to be taken.

I just want to let you know that we don't sell such dangerous multi rotor with flame thrower. We will definitely take care of this matter. Thank you for sharing this to us. Have a great day ahead!

Kind regards,

Ranjo
HobbyKing Support Team


So, I guess I've done my part and it's now in the hands of HK to deal with this.

[Graham Lawrie]

Well done Derek:)