Originally Posted by
HoundDog
Originally Posted by Hydro Junkie 
It was also used on the JT-8 engines used on the 737-100 and 200s in Alaska to prevent gravel and debris from being sucked into their fan blades. If the airlines are that worried about a small rock/pebble, do you think a quad is any less worrying for them, considering the cost of a turbine engine. I haven't checked yet but it wouldn't surprise me to see them on the CFM-56s used on the 300 through 900s now in service. Now, for a little more trivia, the 737 was never intended to fly off unimproved runways. The 727 was developed to do so which was why it had the three JT-8s mounted on the sides of the fuse and centerline in the tail. The plane turned out to be too heavy for many of it's planned runways so it was turned into the workhorse of many airlines passenger routes as well as being converted into a freighter flown for many years by UPS, DHL and USPS, just to name a few
Guys Guys Guys ... As for Drones near Wild Fires. Have U ever watched any Videos of Fire Bombers being led through the smoke by a smaller plane to drop the fire retardent. Depending on Terain, Wind they end up very close to or even going right big plumes of smoke. It is not practical for a Drone to be that close if they are trying to video the operations. Not with standing they should not be there.
Ther there are the Commercial air liners that don't even come close to the altitudes we fly 99.999% of our Toys at. Check Any Approach Plate for any Precision and most Non Precision approaches in the USA they all start at a vectoring altitude of approximately 2800' AGL and stay with in 20 miles of the FAP (Final Approach Fix) witch is normally about 5 miles from the MAP (Missed Approach Point). Then there the Light aircraft flying VFR. All are required to be at pattern altitude (1000' AGL) with in 5 miles any airport until in a position to ma a slandered approach to the runway. i.e. 1000' alt. 1/2 to 3/4 miles abeam the intend point of touchdown (The Numbers) on Down wind. That's the way I was taught. Except for on the commercial we did 1080 over ahead approaches. Well Announced and cleared at towered airports only.
Read your MA magazine Pg 103 about the thoughts of an Emergency Medical flight Pilot and Quads (DRONES)and his Very interesting outlook on Quads since he started flying them. Further more he states that his Company has raised it minimum flight altitudes with apparently no cost in operations or lives lost because of it.
I agree that the drones should not be there, but IMO it is not such a huge safety issue that they should ground the planes. It is a huge overreaction to ground the planes while homes, and possibly people are burning!