Drone Photo Gallery - Part 1

[pong]

As our host-with-the-most is fond of saying, at the Paracast we try to separate the signal from noise. Well, after I did a little Internet survey of surveillance drone technology, I can see our signal/noise job is becoming increasingly difficult. Many airborne drones, large and small, are in production now and dozens more are in development. Police departments can't buy them fast enough and some say we're headed for PoliceState America 1.0. Unfortunately, it's not a game.

Some drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) look just like small airplanes but others have quite radical designs, can fly very slowly or even hover. Others are inflatable blimps. As more police and military units use these things it's a sure bet that some will be mistaken for UFOs. For James Oberg and the debunker crew this may be the nirvana they were hoping for. Alas, they won't need Venus or temperature inversions anymore to debunk real UFOs. "The witness saw a UAV," will be their refrain.

I though some of you might like to see pictures of the new UAVs. Some of the darn things even look like flying saucers. Well, my attempt to get special full-size photo strips into this post just failed. Check back tomorrow for a link to a gallery in a photo-sharing site. My apologies.

Here's an excerpt from an article about the new Honeywell drone. This UFO-like machine seems to be typical of what we'll see in the next few years: "Southern police departments in Houston and Miami have already purchased the Honeywell Micro Air Vehicle for field deployment. The remote-controlled drone videotapes everything it sees and acts as an eye where police can't easily go. It's easy to lug around as a backpack since it only weighs about 15 pounds. It can be deployed in five minutes, can zip around at 50 knots and reach a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet. The MAV will give police officers a unique surveillance option as the drone can peer through windows (or fly through open ones) and hover around corners."

Having said all the above . . . I'm still convinced there are small surveillance UFOs buzzing around our skies, drones that aren't from around here. In 1980 I think Air Force Sgt. Jim Penniston put his hand on one in Rendlesham Forest.

P.S. I'd be curious to know . . . has anyone seen a police or military UAV flying in their city or county?

UPDATE. Thanks for your patience, everyone. Over 90 surveillance drone photos are now posted at this link for your entertainment:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58453408@N04/sets/72157625846571216/

 

[dyingsun]

'Is this just an attempt to 'troll' or are you really special ?' crossed my mind, but boy, those Pictures .I made up my mind, let's hear other people.

 

[Ezechiel]

http://www.dvidshub.net/news/37098/...-bring-hover-and-stare-capability-battlefield

 

[pong]

Drone Video worth watching

<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style> Here's a YouTube video which illustrates perfectly why some drones (UAVs) will be mistaken for UFOs in the future. The performance of the V-Bat drone is quite amazing as it hovers, transitions to horizontal flight and executes high-speed maneuvers.

​

<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style>

The V-Bat takes off vertically and then can fly autonomously to its destination with a flight duration of up to six hours. It can travel as far as 550 miles as it reaches speeds of up to 115 miles per hour.

I've posted a large gallery of drone photos (at Flickr) and one machine you shouldn't miss is the Raytheon DarkEye. This chromed-up bad boy has a real sci-fi/alien probe look to it. Not sure if or when it'll be manufactured. Raytheon, though, already produces a spooky military drone that looks like—you guessed it—a flying black triangle. You can see the Killer Bee and over 90 other surveillance drones at this Flickr address:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58453408@N04/sets/72157625846571216/


---------- Post added at 02:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:21 PM ----------

<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style> <style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }</style> Utah Spy Blimp may be mistaken for UFO

Repoted by James Nelson, Reuters -----Sun, 16 Jan 2011

Utah city may use blimp as anti-crime spy in the sky

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - A proposed unmanned floating airship surveillance system is being hailed by city officials in Ogden, Utah as one way to fight crime in its neighborhoods.

"We believe it will be a deterrent to crime when it is out and about and will help us solve crimes more quickly when they do occur," Ogden City Mayor Matthew Godfrey told Reuters.

The airship entails military technology now available to local law enforcement, he said.

Godfrey floated the idea of a dirigible in the skies above Ogden for his city council members last week. The council is expected to vote on the measure in coming weeks.

He says the cost of the blimp is being negotiated but said it is more "cost effective" to operate than helicopters or fixed winged aircraft.

"We anticipate using it mainly at night. The cameras have incredible night vision to see with tremendous clarity daytime and nighttime. It will be used like a patrol car. It will be used to go and check things out and keep things safe," said Godfrey.

One person will be able to operate the system but Godfrey says it will also function on its own with programing directives.

The blimp is 52 feet long, will be outfitted with two cameras, and is capable of flying up to 40 miles per hour at 400 feet above the city.

Officials say the cigar-shaped blimp, powered by electric batteries, can fly for four to six hours before needing to be recharged.

"Once you understand the capability of the technology as well, not only the cameras but the ability to relay that data from the camera down to ground it's amazing," said Godfrey.

The blimp is long but narrow and moves quickly and quietly, meaning it should be fairly undetectable, he said.

The blimp is being developed by the Utah Center for Aeronautical Innovation and Design at Weber State University. Researchers say the blimp is a helium filled balloon with a special coating of fabric developed at their center.

"The very lightweight fabric was developed in partnership with the Utah State Legislature who gave us a grant... The air envelope would leak the helium it would penetrate through so it had to be coated," said Bradley Stringer, research team executive director.

Ogden will be the first metropolitan police force to employ this technology, Stringer said.

The blimp has almost no operational costs and minimal maintenance expenses, he said. Ogden city officials say it will cost about $100 a month to operate but would not comment specifically on the cost of the blimp.

"It's in the high five-figures. Most of the cost is in the night vision cameras," Stringer said.

"It's extremely silent. It can hover or stay stationery or silently meander over pre-programed courses over the city at nighttime."

Stringer said the Ogden City Police would receive the blimp in April. Testing is now underway and will continue right up to delivery.

Orig. article: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70F1DJ20110116?pageNumber=1

In my drone photo gallery you will also see photos of several surveillance blimps:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58453408@N04/sets/72157625846571216/
[FONT=FreeSans, sans-serif]
[/FONT]