On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 12:24:19 -0700, "David Herman"
wrote:

A dumb question: other than eyeballing and estimating, how exactly does
someone controlling a RC model know its altitude?

Maynard Hill used radar, I believe, to verify his altitude record:

Sub-class F3A (Airplane, piston motor)

N°143:

Gain in altitude : 8205 m=26,919 feet

Date of flight: 06/09/1970
Pilot: Maynard L. HILL (USA)
Course/place: Dahlgren, VA (USA)

Folks have been denied permission to attempt to break his
record in the U.S.:

http://www.noskylimit.50megs.com/

It was crazy of them to try to do in in Jacksonville. The letter
of denial says that they should try out west. They don't seem
to understand that friendly advice.

Some folks use watches that have peak altitude altimeters
built in. I haven't tried that yet. I've gone high enough to scare
myself a few times. I'm sure others with better eyesight have
gone higher than I have.

Marty