"Ferstlesque" wrote in message
...

All Predators and Reapers have transponders with mode C, and maintain
2-way radio communication with ATC (with a phone as backup). Military
Predators and Reapers do all of their training within Restricted
airspace; when they must transit the national airspace to travel to
their operating areas, they do so under an IFR flight plan above FL
180. They cannot "see and avoid" in the common sense of the phrase, so
VFR flight in the NAS is not done. Kirk's estimates on weight are
fairly accurate.

The real danger to GA is implied above. Eventually, some administration will
become convinced that the "see & avoid" concept for UAVs is "too hard", "too
expensive" and (inevitably they will claim) "too dangerous". The "solution"
will be a huge loss of VFR airspace for GA. Further, flight without an
operating transponder will become history. At that point, the entire country
will become controlled airspace.

Vaughn