To be fair to you, despite your spurious accusation, you sound like a responsible person who flies these models with consideration for others. I cannot imagine you would fly one over other peoples land without permission, or anywhere that could potentially result in damage to other peoples property or in a way which breached their privacy.
The problem is, not everyone is like that. The model in question is a 10cm square plastic drone which was smashed to pieces after impacting my car and drive. I'd make an educated guess that public liability insurance is not on the owners radar, nor ever will be. It was flown over my property without permission, recording video showing the interior of my house and then proceeding to damage my car. If it had hit someone on the head, or something similar, no amount of insurance will make up for that. I don't want to sound like one of the "you'll have someones eye out with that" brigade. I'm not into calling for bans on other peoples hobbies, but as drones become more prevalent, it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt. The cheaper end of the market is where the main risk is, not in you guys who spend hundreds, if not thousands, on specialist models to carry your Go-Pro. I liken it to kids owning a Gat-Gun in the 70's/80's, versus someone owning a proper rifle. Who was most likely to shoot someone in the bottom for a laugh?...and who would be far more likely to carry appropriate insurance?
I see what you are saying but I was not sure precisely where the model came from and I'm not about to go hunting around for a specific house, wasting my own time, to give back a non functional wreck of a model which they recently used to damage my property. I have to be honest, even if it was working, it is not my responsibility to go searching for the owner. If they were responsible, they would know where it had gone, come and ask, then be granted it's return, further to payment for damage caused. By rights, I could have gone to the police and had it been a more serious class of drone, it may have been necessary to do so as the damage could have been thousands of pounds.
Instead of complaining at me for not returning a misused drone, you really should be looking to complain about the idiots who use them in this manner. Because as sure as eggs is eggs, they will be responsible for your hobby being legally regulated beyond belief, and in short order. My understanding is that it is already heading that way now and if the responsible users of drones don't put pressure in the right places, you may find they are subject to an outright ban, as has happened to others peoples hobbies in the past, due to the actions of a few irresponsible individuals.
I think drones are a great idea and have a somewhat useful function. I often fancied having an R/C helicopter for filming fly bys. Never got around to it. Like any R/C model, be it plane, helicopter or car, they just need someone with a brain behind the controls.
My mates got a DJI P2 and loves it but he's rich so GoPro fitted for movies.....
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