Hi, Fred,

Thanks for taking the time to write. Let me state up front that I've
held a number of high level security clearances, so you don't have to
worry about me being a bad guy. But everyone fears death by
something: my dad feared fire, my mom feared knives, and I fear
midairs.

From what you say, it sounds like Predators in flight are quite good
at see and be seen. Great - I won't worry about them anymore,
especially since I happen to live far from any US border. I'll bet
that Mike won't be so easily reassured about their reliability,
however.

Your comments on the SkySeer seem way off base. These little 4 pound
whizzies are being used over state forests, and they certainly could
be a threat to glider pilots flying ridges. I'd bet big bucks that
these little babies don't have the same see and be seen abilities that
you claim for the Predator, nor would I expect that their operators/
pilots would be as well trained as Predator pilots.

You're not worried about hitting a 4 pound object when you're at 200
feet and doing 100 kts? Why not? I'm sure you're aware that birds have
brought down airliners taking off and/or coming in to land. Here's
another thought - 4 pound rocks dropped off overpasses have killed
drivers in vehicles, and laminated windshields are much stronger than
plexiglas glider canopies.

As for police helicopters, I've had the experience of viewing one up
close - while on tow! I don't want to stop them doing their business,
but I'd certainly like them to respect both the G symbol on their
sectionals and the rules of the air.

-John

On Apr 9, 2:33 am, fredsez wrote:
I have "Flown" the early Predator. The pilot (on the ground), can see
and identify other aircraft miles away in the area the UAV is flying.
N numbers are readable long miles away. On most missions the Predator
is so high that not many planes can fly at that level. After 30,000
flights in lots of planes and gliders, except near testing sites I
would say the threat is nil. There are NOTAMS posted for test flights.
The optics are so good they do not have to fly in general aircraft
airspace. The see and be seen ability exceeds nearly all pilots in
flight.
When Predator test pilots trained, they also trained in gliders. They
can travel far after an engine failure.

Who would be threatened by a 6 ft model airplane at 200 ft flying over
gang areas? They are built so light, they might not even break a
window if it hit. These things are not cheap due to the optics and
electronics and the manpower to use them. They are not a "Big Brother"
threat, unless you are trying to escape a felony attempt.

It may become so much of a threat that model airplanes may not be
allowed to fly. What a tragedy it would be for the Feds to over
regulate airspace in "the interests" of safety because ghosts may be
flying and accidents that threaten people on the ground are few and
far between. I believe that class G airspace is not very regulated as
of now. There are regs in reference to minimum safe altitudes, but as
of now, it applies to airplanes being flown by pilots in command.

Police helicopters often fly below the minimums. They rarely fly where
I'm going. I would not want to stop them.

Most low altitude and low speed UAVs have a fuel limit that only
allows short time flights. The threat to people on the ground is much
less than the threat of a criminal intent on harming you.

Use a little reason and rational thought. Unless you, your self want
to threaten people with harm, you have nothing to fear. If you want to
aid and abet criminal activities, I would think of you as one of them.
Rest easy and enjoy the best freedom of action and opportunities that
are found no where else in the world.

Who me worry? Not one minute. Fred Robinson