There isn't really a drone community. With RC, almost everybody involved was an enthusiast who would meet with other enthusiasts.
Anybody interested, even for a few minutes, can get a drone. This is the RC world's "Eternal September".
Anybody interested, even for a few minutes, can get a drone. This is the RC world's "Eternal September".
I would liken it to the Wild West, where anybody with money can buy a fairly large quadcopter and go fly it without many consequences. I'm glad there is a push to get these registered.
I think one of the reasons there isn't a greater push for safety (licensing and insurance) is you're not seeing the stories that would compel the general public to react and have a large outcry over drones yet. Yes, you've seen some privacy issues surrounding them, but stuff like kids getting severely injured or this causing a ten car pile up on the highway hasn't happened yet - or at least not that I'm aware of.
Thus, with no major public outcry, the politicians have no desire to push for laws that regulate the industry and the people using them. I'm sure in time, we'll start see more stringent regulation of drones, but for now, there is little if any.
full disclosure: I own several drones and do aerial videography as part of my job.
A baby lost an eye: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-349367...
Local clubs were a much better experience, because they could tell you about the local stores, or lend you the tools and supplies that you only need once (I'm looking at you, green loctite), or help you assemble that tricky part that has terrible instructions.
Also, in a time before ready to fly models, everything came as a broken down, or partially assembled kit. Having someone who knew what they were doing check that you had assembled your very expensive model correctly was an enormous benefit. For a new pilot, having an experienced pilot fly your airplane for the first time, and sort out the trim, etc saved a lot of people a lot of time, money and heartache.
You don't really need any of that with a multicopter - they're so much simpler mechanically. I can see how they've gotten away without that kind of community, but i still think it's a major loss.
Now you can walk into Maplin (UK electronics store) and buy a £200 drone as a Christmas gift for your 12 year old. The rep who sells you the drone won't tell you about insurance, or how dangerous they can be, or anything...
I went Christmas shopping today and saw various £200+ drones for sale in high street shops. You can walk in, buy one, and walk out no questions asked.
Great in many ways, terrible in others. It gives no opportunity to raises issues about liability and the fact that these things are not really toys.
One of the first things I learnt at my club was just how easily a prop will take off your finger (by way of a carrot). They are not toys.