.5 grams more and this DLG flight would have been illegal

A small DLG glider, a big field about 1Km from the Tokoroa Airfield and a little hot air. That's what this video is all about.
I'm sorry if the video and audio are not too good in this video, I was using my Mobius as a hat-cam and had to use a lot of digital zoom in post-edit to make the model visible once it got a few hundred feet of altitude on. But about this flight...
Here in NZ, the legal definition of a "Model Aircraft" is:
"a pilotless aircraft with a gross mass of between 100g to 25Kg"
hence, although I am forbidden to fly RC model aircraft at or within 4Km of an airfield, this nearly 8-minute flight of my 99.5g DLG is quite legal. Even though I was just over 1Km from the airfield and probably came very close to reaching 400 feet AGL, the rules state that what I was flying isn't a "model aircraft" and therefore no regulations were broken.
MFNZ, your monopoly and abuse thereof is useless to you here.
As you can see, no full-sized aircraft nor people on the ground were endangered by this "100% legal" RC flight -- although I'm sure it will make some grumpy old men very angry that their rules have so many holes in them because they are so out of date and don't account for changes in technology.

[@brettnaysmith3949]

I should have one of those arrive before xmas. very pleasing to see what i can expect when the weather improves.

[@footsy420]

Oh and thanks for everything Bruce. You are a good man in a crazy world. You have taught me a lot.

[@kylehammond]

Really nice video! I have been flying this plane for several months now, and I have loved every single second of it.

[@SocialMediaWithMrInfo]

OUTSTANDING flight Bruce...! DLG flights really take talent and a feel for the lift, you do a great job with powered and natural flight.( I watch your videos A LOT for the great tips and ALL the fun.) I like my Phoenix 2000, powered as it may be BUT, you get that 6' wing span in a nice thermal...and you can fly for hours. Thanks for the winter flight Bruce.(It's summer here on the east coast...USA Pa) I like to keep an eye on the Hawks, they love the uplift too. See ya in the air, LOVE the RC Hobby bud. Wayne-N8VBW ... ✈ ... 🚁 ... 🚀... ⛵

[@demianmoody148]

I love how you just go ahead and just max it out :D my biggest respect to you

[@RobinDChrisChurch]

Aren't DLG's wonderful? I'm envious of the huge lift you found. Awesome.

[@jerryel2]

Bruce, you just continually crack me up with your comments and actions regarding the MFNZ and CAA. I've told a lot of folks to look up your videos on KZbin. Although I'm a lot older than you, many think I'm also a crackpot doing things that a (now ancient) physically disabled person shouldn't be doing. From learning to fly a real plane with hand controls in 1970 and boat racing I'm now relegated to my rural homestead flying an FPV quadcoptor with no authority figures telling me what I can and cannot do. By staying under the radar (and 400') I don't have the worries many others like you have doing what makes you happy.

[@xjet]

Great to hear from a fellow rebel flier :-)

[@ravener96]

growing old is mandatory, growing up is not. stay fun.

[@jerryel2]

ravener96 Yeah, that's what I'm telling my daughters who remembered the Sundays 40 years ago dragging them to 1/8 scale nitro car races and to the local model flying club. They hated it but the nitro car races were often at the Mall parking lot so they liked those Sundays. Anyway, they keep asking if I'm going to build another giant glider which I built on the kitchen table back then and they had to eat in the TV room.

[@mrmurder75]

Quite fancy a dlg. Would make a nice Change to go to the field without 5 kilos of lipo weighing down my bag!

[@bigdoghaveit]

Ok I have to get a DLG now Love the video PLEASE DONT EVER STOP MAKING THEM

[@wordreet]

7+ minutes is super good with this basic DLG!

[@MrTommymxr]

why do i have a feeling CAA or MFNZ is gonna come to your house with a modified scale.

[@xjet]

MrTommymxr Yep, and then explain to judge how this grey-haired, 61 year old man, throwing a piece of balsawood and film in a field really does pose a genuine threat to all those planes you could see and hear buzzing overhead :-)

[@MrTommymxr]

the sarcasm is real.

[@TheInvaderDust]

***** Id like to see the look of the dumbfounded judge's face if it ever came to that. So sorry you are still having problems with the a-holes. Keep flying buddy! Ill do the same.

[@YeshuaAgapao]

Big bad government got you smashed down good. Just go fly that pulsejet powered quadcopter you had in that other video. Government can go fuck off.

[@WarblesOnALot]

geneticallyinferior1 That's prezactlically the problem with what you said, Darwinian-Cull-On-Legs, you waz pompously Bin- Sorryarse..; dangling your utter inability to recognise a Justly Justified Judiciously-Quixotic Joust, against the Mindlessly Entrenched Hidebound Beaurocracy, when thine Medieval Eyes doth behold such a spectacle..., displaying thy failing for all to see, hanging it out in the Breeze for, like a Mongrel Dog's Ballbag in the Sun... Would ye be loikin' Fries wi' thut...? ;-p Ciao !

[@wollepatong]

I love the way you are throwing that little glider high up in the air :-D

[@UPINTHEAIRNZ]

nice to see you back in the air Bruce !

[@xjet]

Thanks mate, it's just a shame that so many innocent lives had to be put at risk in order that I could have that flight eh? :-)

[@yellowbluerc5047]

So much fun just coming here and watching these sarcastic comments just to fuck with CAA keep it up!! Always having a laugh here

[@hawkskyflier]

Very nice flying Bruce, I like those gliders... my luck I'd toss it into my truck.. with the windows up!

[@crezzee]

Great flight Bruce, most i have managed with mine (Dreamflight Libbelle) is just over 4 minutes.

[@philrogers2345]

I like DLG's too. In fact I just love gliders, and no one reviews these either, so theres a big gap as far as Im concerned with regard to setting up, best buys best techiques etc. These multicopters are all good fun, and I have a number of them, but you cant beat a good DLG for honest back to basics stress free flying.

[@FPVREVIEWS]

Cheers bruce, and glad to see you flying. hope they drag you into a frivolous lawsuit, so you can sue them for a lot of money for all the time of your's that they have wasted. best to you!

[@BenPortmanlewes]

Cheers Bruce, as a petrol head I couldn't help noticing the "emergency go" marks the other side of your truck. Who ever that was literally has money to burn ;-)

[@SocialMediaWithMrInfo]

Oh and Bruce, glad YOU could see that DLG Waaaay up there because we couldn't. See ya in the air bud.

[@blackmennewstyle]

Very nice :) Gliders are really cool model aircrafts!

[@sloperdude]

Nice launch, caught a thermal on the first throw, great flying. And I take it this was one of the HobbyKing DLG's, so you didn't even use a high tech, high dollar glider to do it. Very good, Bruce.

[@sparrowlt]

Parkzone micro fleet (T-28, Mustang, Champ.... ) are all less than 50g ... they are legal too

[@RC_Sky]

Nice flight, I am also have this HK DLG but mine after the several repairs is 130 grams, but flies beautifully.

[@frozenmist-w4k]

I love freeloading nature..Nice to see you one thermal ahead of the fun police Bruce, nice flight matey.

[@yowieP51]

Back in 1981 I launched a little free flight-er into a thermal like that (no de-thermalizer) it was last seen (through binoculars) at around 3000' heading out across the ditch you didn't find it??? ;))

[@xjet]

No, but I've lost my fair share of chuck-gliders to thermals over the years.

[@brainless248]

I would love to see more DLG videos!

[@bentlepa]

Tokoroa Airfield Note : Model Aircraft: As noted on the VFG, there is a model flying area directly alongside the runway at the NorthWest end of the strip. Pilots should always assume that there may be models flying there, regardless of the time or day of the week.

[@xjet]

And the ridiculous thing is that the model flying area shown on the VFG is now the least-used area for flying RC models at the field. As I've shown in videos, the fliers are now flying well outside that area. Sadly, neither MFNZ nor the SWDC seem to think that's a problem.

[@footsy420]

I am limited to dlg flying too. I live in a national park and have been happily flying powered gliders for years but now with the drone hysteria zombie apocalypse I even have to hide my dlg. Some of the more affected wardens say that all models are real aircraft under the law and you aren't allowed to take off or land aircraft in the national parks. Last year I had to sign a promise to appear in court. My defense was that I wasn't taking off or landing, I was throwing and catching. I'd also been told by another warden who seemed to enjoy my flying that I was ok flying gliders unless there was a new directive from the park. The warden who wrote the ticket didn't show up even though I had to promise to appear. So the park regulations have a clause that non motorised aircraft incapable of transporting persons are exempt form the law. Just before Canada was damned by the intern regulations I was flying my Libelle dlg for the first time. I figured I didn't want to take any chances and double stay well within the law. The same warden that gave me the ticket the year before took my libelle and beloved taranis radio. I didn't get a ticket this time, she just took it. After phone calls and letters asking for it back I talked to the supervising warden. There really isn't any oversight as he is there to protect his coworkers. I said that it's up to the courts to punish me not law enforcement. My property was taken as punishment. He gave it back but still maintained that it's illegal because the things (servos) that move the control surfaces have motors and therefore it's a motorised aircraft. Now I fly an Alula to stay under 250g and I fly in an area where I never see anyone else. Sometimes I go back to my prime slope soaring spot because I know a judge would not look favourably upon the wardens inconsistent and maybe illegal actions. But I really enjoy flying dlg and I'm getting into good shape tossing my dlg on days with no lift.

[@stephengloor8451]

Gotta get me one of these. I really miss my gliders ...... Flying through them seems wrong somehow and yet that is what I do with my drones now.

[@isoldemarangelis5096]

Well done , love your work!!

[@renoflash06]

***** Bruce, I have to say the mobius video came out pretty good. While it is no NASA camera following a rocket for a 100 miles it did a decent job. Of course the mobius doesn't have any autofocus to go out of focus like most cameras looking up into the sky.

[@kevchef]

cant beat DLG's! Hours of endless fun! I have a Libelle Dream Flight and a Vladimir Blaster 3.

[@BMSWEB]

Nice flight!! I may have to try out a DLG eventually

[@sleddarcheddar]

I like the burnout marks in the beginning. Either someone was pissed off and decided to do that or didn't give a damn.

[@xjet]

I guess that little part of town is where all the "outlaws" hang out, not just me ;-)

[@awuma]

In Poland, the limit for flying near an airport is supposed to be 600g ... This reminds me of flying at the New Plymouth airport in the '60s :-) We were fully approved for it, not just official Club days. Some wonderful free flights there. No D/T?

[@dustintravis8791]

Nice flight! My 68 year old dad wants to get one.

[@Chook55]

Great flight Bruce. What battery, receiver, SBEC(if using 1 or 2 cell lipo) and C of G are you using?

[@Da55a]

The birds sound nice. Gliders are great

[@golemsnatch5755]

I fear that the midnight knock awaits you Bruce. I hope you have a network of safe houses set up. ;-)

[@rougeneon1997]

Damn you really got that thing up there! Best DLG vid on youtube. Leave it to xjet

[@bragators]

Great video! Which model is it?? Cheers

[@sdfsdghhjjf3880]

I love the HK Mini DLG,but no way can i launch it to that altitude,you must have had lots of practice,i am more worried about damaging the glider if i over do it,good video!,have subscribed.

[@Granite]

Don't kill anyone with that death machine :P. Nice video.

[@AndyClayton]

its so sad that someone who contributes so much to this hobby is having to be this careful with what they are flying. Half the stuff I have in my garage is because of the things I have learned from bruce. someone give him a break! im sure the CAA could find fault with 90 percent of peoples videos on here (youtube long range and leave this guy alone)

[@marhar2]

Nice! What model is this? Can you do some more videos on gliding? Any special radio setup? How do you find the thermals? etc?

[@dave_s_vids]

It's an HK / AliExpress Mini DLG(non-aileron version). They're around £75.

[@sross148]

we are not too far away from having quadcopters under 100g with quality FPV and gopro level HD video on them. And heck digital stabilized image too to equal a gimbal. Heck the military have their copter under 20 grams (Hornet). Love this trend to higher tech, high performance very satisfying UMX flyers. Not long and they will be as much fun as the 350g mini quads.

[@xjet]

Yep, I've got my FPV ladybird quad which comes in at under 50g all ready to fly with FPV gear and 200mW 5.8GHz video transmitter onboard.

[@sross148]

***** yep, been rockin a fpv laydbird a year now too. hey is this DLG the Hobyking PNF one? Looks like it. You've inspired me. Just ordered one. But next time we get thermals here in the rainy northwest of north america is like May or July 2015.

[@xjet]

sross148 Yep, this is the PNF one without ailerons - rudder and elevator.

[@zeezeefpv6728]

nice 1 bruce think im gonna get myself a dlg for the summer

[@xjet]

Yep, give it a go Zeez, you'll love it. DLGs and miniquads eh?

[@benjahnz]

Wow celebrity commenter . Time to go watch the new spoctra50 episode.

[@svareter42]

***** Dlg's and mini Quad's sounds like a nice plan for the summer, with FPV everything on top :)

[@argat11]

Bruce, that is the 2 channel mini DLG from HK, right? I'd love to know what is the set up you use on it. Excuse me for I'm a little not so knowledgable on so little receivers, batteries and else one needs for this. Greetings from Mexico! Ar.

[@xjet]

The setup on that particular one is designed for ultra light-weight but a more conventional setup would be a 180mAH (from memory - but I'd have to check to be sure) 2S lipo with a 5V UBEC and I use the FrSky 4-channel receiver. These models come with servos already installed and the factory servos seem okay -- although I replaced mine in this particular model with some lighter ones to get the weight below the magic 100g. To be honest, there's very little difference between my ultra-light one and my "stock" one in terms of flight duration.

[@davedeja]

Good for you, Bruce. Screw 'em!

[@ezr168]

Your scale might be off, could end up +.5 grams over on the judges scale. Your skating thin ice my friend, think of the children.

[@RWBHere]

A drop of moisture or humidity could make the 1 gramme difference. I'd weigh it on good scale on a wet day, to make sure. But Bruce probably did that already!

[@Ibushi]

Looks like it only went down because you made it go down. Can you put FPV gear on it and how long can you keep it in the air?

[@connieindahouse]

Quality flight!

[@DavidSmith-dm8ew]

bruce are those posi burn tracks yours? lol those 99.5 gram baby killers again...look out!!! Good show, cheers!

[@kennethwang7045]

Should I get a super expensive radio for this or do you think my typical hobbyking radio would do?

[@SuperFrodo95]

Your HK radio should be alright. It's only a 2-channel plane after all.

[@hughhemington9559]

What components did you use? (LIPO, receiver, servos)

[@waynerussell6401]

It is extremely hard to get a one metre DLG less than 100grams - the Elf manages using lots of carbon. For those that would like to try, Hobby King have just released a kit version of this Unique for less than $40. You can scratch build (or get a kit) of the Mimi (around 150gm) www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=840763

[@vannicrider7953]

I don't understand all this. In the UK I can fly a plane up to 7kg from public parks as long as I keep it 50m away from people and don't overfly residential areas. Rules just state fly in a manner not to cause a risk to people or property And we have probably 10 times your population density.

[@techstate2863]

new subscriber. thanks for the vids. Can you tell us why you've been banned? i haven't seen a vid about it yet, but you mention legalities a lot, can you point me in the right direction? thanks

[@MrFriedgreentomatos]

Hi you say Hobby King is that from the US?

[@MrCarlozan96]

Could anyone pease tell me the name and the brand of that DLG? It seems fun... I love DLGs but since I don't have a great knowledge of them, i would really appreciate an advice. By the way, your flight was a very good one indeed!

[@xjet]

The DLG I used is this one: www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__29764__Mini_DLG_Composite_Discus_Launch_Glider_Blue_White_950mm_PNF_.html

[@MrCarlozan96]

Thanks a lot!!! How on earth could you remove 30.5g from it? Black magic? Witchcraft? Skills...?

[@xjet]

Mr.Carlozan Being "made in China", the weight seems to be only a "rough guide" and I have two. One is about 125g all ready to fly and the other is much ligher (as you can see). I also used a very small battery and receiver and fly with quite an aft CG.

[@MrCarlozan96]

Thanks Bruce, your advice has been very useful.

[@timescapes]

God damn how freaking ludicrous is this stupid vendetta that MFNZ and the CAA have with Bruce?! The most petty I have ever heard of and yet so damaging. Huge shame on them.

[@normancollins7966]

over half was above the clouds out of sight of the viewer, what fun is that?

[@GraemeDJ]

The fact that he managed to find a thermal and rode it out of sight takes skill and gives a personal level of satisfaction that no motorised plane can match. The fun was HIS we just witnessed it.

[@brntwrmn3197]

Hey Bruce have tryed the frsky verio in you DLG or is it not worth it.

[@xjet]

I have another (larger) DLG here in which I'm installing the FrSky Vario so I'll be sharing the results on RCModelReviews.

[@brntwrmn3197]

***** Sounds good I look forward to seeing that on your RCmodelReviews Channel. I just switched all of my models over to the frsky Terranis plus system from Aurora 9 and I'm loving it, bit of a learning curve, took a few days but well worth it. Oh and will you we upgrading to the plus?

[@RobB_VK6ES]

I have the high precision version . Currently in my Radian POS er sorry PRO but soon destined for the Cularis. In a typical flight I find it never more than a meter out ( baro changes) I like it a lot.

[@pokies100]

But a murder of DLGs (crowing you are flying) would blacken the sky's (as an armies arrows have done in battles of the past with the first volly) and a blackened sky of DLG's would occlude the pilots approached to the airfield at 501 feet. So it is not take off or landing in a park so council not involved, and it is under 100g so CAA not involved, and MFNZ has no wings over you so they knot involved. Who the hell is flying this thing? Hi Gordon.

[@RWBHere]

You definitely were endangering people there, Bruce. Three faceless bureaucrats had heart attacks and strokes because of you thwarting their plans!

[@steveUSMCpageNOTOLERANCE]

Move over here to New Hampshire ,USA. Love to have ya mate. semper fi steve

[@andygaras]

i hear they're adding a new clause to the act that limits flying any model above 1g near an airfield if your surname ends in simpson and your first name consists of one or more "B"'s

[@KevinMillard68]

neat

[@purge98]

What's the address of the head of the MFNZ?

[@luciduous]

Poor xjet. Limited to flying flyfishing bait. Makes me mad. Should be flying a quad copter modded with a fixed wing and pulse jet engine! Along with rounds of applause

[@xjet]

Don't worry Luke, the opera isn't over until the fat lady sings ;-)

[@luciduous]

While your bored, look at my work on 3d hmds for fpv @ real3dfpv . Com. Shameless plug I know, I'm just stoked that you commented on my comment. Been watching you a long time and want to return the entertainment. Thanks for all your work

[@xjet]

Luke Jacobs Very interesting stuff Luke... I'll keep an eye on it. I think 3D FPV will become a useful adjunct to the hobby and was going to play around with it myself.

[@SWAYDRIFTAWAY]

Glad u can at least get some stick time

[@mrmurder75]

Bruce! My children were playing in a park here in the UK around the same time you were flying this death from above dlg! You could of killed them for God sake man! I demand mfnz ban you from ever holding so much as a transmitter ever again! Think of the children Bruce, THE CHILDREN!!!!!!

[@thesherm44]

195fireball obviously mrmurder75 was joking.

[@mrmurder75]

195fireball I hate to feed a troll but can I suggest you Google the word irony and the phrase 'tongue in cheek'. See if you can find a sense of humour while you are at it.

[@mrmurder75]

Sherman Hartman thank-you. An intelligent response!

[@mrmurder75]

195fireball and it's you're by the way, not your.

[@TheRattleSnake3145]

195fireball and you didn't get the joke

[@Stambo59]

Won't be too long and MFNZ will lose their monopoly on issuing the "relevent qualification according to what I have just read. That is if I am reading this correctly. www.caa.govt.nz/rules/nprms/NPRM_14-01_Part_102.pdf Under [Reference 4.6.6] "It is proposed to amend 101.205(a)(3) to change the identification of the body that may be approved by the Director, to issue a pilot qualification and to appoint persons to give instruction in the operation of remotely piloted aircraft, from “a model aircraft association” to “an approved person or organisation”. This change reflects that the unmanned aircraft sector is now wider than traditional model aircraft operators."

[@xjet]

I think you'll almost certainly find that MFNZ will retain the monopoly for "recreational flying" (ie: RC models) and the other authorities will be allocated for commercial flying. This is CAA's work-around for the current ridiculous situation where someone using an RC craft commercially has to seek certification from a bunch of old-aged-pensioners who fly RC models for a hobby. Remember that Rex Kenny of CAA told me to my face "MFNZ is the only body that will ever be recognised by CAA" for the purposes of issuing "wings" and he wouldn't lie, would he?

[@Stambo59]

***** For once I do hope you are wrong. As far as I and everyone I fly with are concerned, MFNZ is past its use by date. The local club members total disinterest when I mentioned multirotor and FPV when I went out to a flying day left me wondering why I bothered. It is so easy for anyone to buy and fly these days without interaction with any model flying organisation because there is so much information available on the internet. There needs to be something else.

[@ssendam757]

***** Can't you then just record all your flying, put it on youtube with ads and call it commercial flying?

[@Fourcycle]

If they hassle you over this it'll be time to fold some paper into airplanes and fly them out at the airport, with an observer by your side and your radio monitoring for any nearby aircraft of course ;o)

[@fergusonhr]

Bruce is an inovator and an inspiration to a LOT of people...he is also extreemly smart and gives us a lot of in depth information for free, so before you judge him on whatever it is some of you judge him on, which is pure shit...look in the mirror and ask yourself, what have you done in your life to help out what you are passionate about...then sit your ass down and shut up...sincerly your Gary R Ferguson Jr.

[@utuberlesmouches]

untill 7" minutes it is obviously some classified stuff ...

[@javieruriel]

Where can I get that glider?

[@xjet]

Frank R. Pilot HobbyKing sells it. I did a full review on my RCModelReviews channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4uUnGCBq9Rqh68

[@paulwolfe7728]

Hey xjet, whats up! I'm not tryn to b a smart az or anythn, just too dumb to figure it out. How come it woulda bin illegal?? Cuz that frikn rockd, neh?!

[@MrFowl]

I would really appreciate it if you could share some DLG knowledge. I have one but I've never had any luck finding thermals with it... longest flight has been 2:00 :( If you could do some more flights like this "thinking out loud" explaining how to find thermals that would be great (I've got a Libelle, live in FL USA)

[@Gareth223338]

Whats the model? I might have to get one

[@xjet]

www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__29764__Mini_DLG_Composite_Discus_Launch_Glider_Blue_White_950mm_PNF_.html

[@Gareth223338]

***** Thankyou, Another late xmas pressy for me ;-)

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Looks like it's discontinued. Last I heard about the 250 gram limit for being registered is that a court case decision went against the FAA in that they never had any authority to institute that rule in the first place. I never heard anything more about it, so I assume there's no longer a registration requirement. Like there was or would be any enforcement anyway.

[@Eric-xb4zm]

Fast forward to 1:53 for the flight

[@rclokers]

Keep going my friend. This stupid people need some flights to relax a llittle.

[@GibbonFPV]

I hope you didn't hit a fly! That would then make it illegal!

[@GENESUTUBE69]

I JUST DO NOT GET IT. IT MUST BE ALL THAT BLOOD RUSHING INTO YOUR HEADS DOWN THERE.

[@mikemccoy9812]

video of clouds

[@MrUnder30seconds]

my rectum/arse hole has been bad for 3 years, what do i do?

[@kenmunn4421]

Nice little glider but.... get yourself a good camera man next time....