[steplock]

I'm actually pleasantly surprised that the govt didn't shut this down hard since it falls under "guided missile" area under the fed regs.

Those regs are what really hurts the amateur rocketeers and even affects the development of a civilian reusable rocket and space exploration.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

Well they fly autonomous models often in college aerodynamic competitions. This is when several teams from differant schools of aerodynamic engineering students build models to compete for models which can fly the longest, lift the heaviest loads, use the least fuel, fly the furtherest, or whatever. Also other record attempts have used them. I don't think there is any rule that declares them a guided missle. Of course the lower altitudes they fly often allows them to fly without FAA notification.