Originally Posted by
Chris Nicastro
So I guess the 5 drones that caused the aerial fire fighting crews to "dump their payloads and land" due to their interference in the airspace over the fire in California is just over reacting.
I guess these little aircraft pose no credible threat to full scale aircraft because jets have titanium fan blades and helicopters have stainless and titanium composite rotors. They will just chop these little drones into peices, this is just all over reacting Im sure.
NO, WRONG, IGNORANT, IRRESPONSIBLE
At a closing speed of just 100 mph a 5lb object weighs 500lbs at impact. At 200mph its a 1000lbs and so on and so on. Add to that the speed of the drone and the closing speed can exceed 300mph. No commercial aircraft windshield is designed for these impact loads and they are flying well within these speeds when dropping water on fires. Military aircraft can take some damage from debris and gun fire but they are not using A-10's as tankers here are they. Yes a drone can go thru a windshield and damage rotors and turbines.
A very good friend of mine is a Life Flight pilot, former fire fighting pilot, former logging pilot, former Blackhawk Army pilot. I have it on good authority what can happen if one of these careless drone pilots put one into a helicopter.
There are aircrews lives at stake as well as people and property at risk on the ground. Pull your heads out of your hole and stop flying these drones near full scale aircraft, just for starters!
I have 34 years, YEARS, INVESTED in radio control model airplanes, not to mention tens of thousands of dollars invested as well. Im not going to have you Drone Idiots provoke the FAA or whatever government agency BAN my hobby.
If you see drone pilots flying over fires, over airports, over areas that are private, CALL the Police!!! Take some responsibility and stop these people or our hobby is lost.
Well said and very accurate. The only thing is, as init4fun says, calling the police will probably be unproductive. What is actually worse is the 'cry wolf' syndrome will (is already?) taking effect with them. Most LEOs seem to be willing to wait and see if Dummy Drone Operator does something that costs the vehicle and get him when he tries to recover it. Does not help rider scale guys. This is the reason I have occasionally had something to say in this thread. Way too many idiots among us have no comprehension of what striking ANY object as speeds around 100 or better will do to things and a few seem to think commercial aviation is invincible. Eight pounds of meat is less rigid and actually delivers less damage than 4 pounds of metal and plastic at the same speed. But we wont bore the stupid with factual details.