They shoot frozen geese into jet engines as part of the testing, they dump 3000 gallons of water per second into jet engines as part of testing... It could gobble up a drone without blinking an eye.
This is true but until the tests have been run and they have statistical data to back up any hypothesis the public perception is exactly what the media wants it to be. IMHO one of the best things to happen would be broad testing across several aircraft from small single engine GA up to huge commercial airlines and prove what will or will NOT happen.They shoot frozen geese into jet engines as part of the testing, they dump 3000 gallons of water per second into jet engines as part of testing... It could gobble up a drone without blinking an eye.
I was wrong about the gallons of water per seconds. It was 4000 tons per minute.and the Bird issue... Looks like it was a "Chicken Gun"
More testing... these engines are pretty robust.
This is true but until the tests have been run and they have statistical data to back up any hypothesis the public perception is exactly what the media wants it to be. IMHO one of the best things to happen would be broad testing across several aircraft from small single engine GA up to huge commercial airlines and prove what will or will NOT happen.
Until we have the hard #'s the media gets to paint whatever horrible and tragic outcome they want and John Q. Public will drink the kool-aid and support the media campaign lock, stock, and barrel.
This makes sense and I hope thorough testing is done with drone strikes to many different sizes of aircraft. Gut feeling tells me the commercial airliners will have no problem tolerating a 3-lb. Phantom strike to either engine or body, but there could be moderate to serious damage to smaller craft like helicopters and two-seat Cessna's.
Great posts, folks! Yeah, I think we'll be fine. And radio controlled planes etc. have been around for years!
UK
Yes for many years but not at the #'s we are seeing drones, at the altitudes we are seeing drones, and not at the LOCATIONS we are seeing drones. For years we've flown R/C planes but they were almost always flown at a flying field where GA didn't fly low and/or the flying field was known and avoided and usually (not always) less than 400'AGL. With this new technology practically every square foot of earth is a potential flying field and our drones are capable of going 1,000's of feet into the air because we no longer have to rely on our eyesight to maintain control of the aircraft . As much as I would like to place my bets on your statement I have to whole heartedly disagree. Today's R/C aircraft are night and day different than R/C aircraft were just 5 years ago.
However, with all these idiots taking their Phantoms up to 1000+ ft. AGL and muckin' around up there like clueless chumps --- I can easily see why real pilots are nervous.![]()
I was wrong about the gallons of water per seconds. It was 4000 tons per minute.and the Bird issue... Looks like it was a "Chicken Gun"
More testing... these engines are pretty robust.
I agree. There have been documented (and some recorded) cases of bird strikes on small GA that caused total windscreen failure and the mass contained in our LiPo battery would be significant to say the least. Most GA windscreens are not "Bird Strike" grade and a phantom at just the right area would most likely penetrate.
Yes for many years but not at the #'s we are seeing drones, at the altitudes we are seeing drones, and not at the LOCATIONS we are seeing drones. For years we've flown R/C planes but they were almost always flown at a flying field where GA didn't fly low and/or the flying field was known and avoided and usually (not always) less than 400'AGL. With this new technology practically every square foot of earth is a potential flying field and our drones are capable of going 1,000's of feet into the air because we no longer have to rely on our eyesight to maintain control of the aircraft . As much as I would like to place my bets on your statement I have to whole heartedly disagree. Today's R/C aircraft are night and day different than R/C aircraft were just 5 years ago.
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