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Dronesaw

Remember the drone that hit a plane landing at Heathrow?

Apparently, it was not a drone.

Pilots are somewhat anxious about drones at the moment so I suppose an occasional false alarm is understandable.
There have been four reported incidents in the last few months which are detailed here: Aviation Safety Network.

A representative from BALPA was interviewed on the TV news a few days ago and he pointed out that whilst extensive research has been carried out on bird strikes, nobody knows what effect the ingestion of a battery into a jet engine could have. However, the words pretty disastrous spring to mind.

A bit of thread drift, but this video vividly illustrates the effect on a jet engine when a Heron was ingested.

Now take that Heron and stick a lithium battery up it's ass. :eek:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jTKfFxwpbUU

Sorry for the junky link, but I was reminded of this video where the engine test slices the chicken.

That's kinda weird. I was just thinking about that very video this afternoon. Specifically, the hail and water portion.

Whether it's a nosy neighbour, that annoying kid down the road or the latest manifestation of international terrorism, you too can protect yourself against their weapon of choice, the drone.

All you need is the SkyWall100 Drone Defence System.

They haven't released a price but with a carbon fiber body, fancy carrying case, and sophisticated electronics, I'll bet it's spendy. Why spend all that money to know down a drone? Oh that's right, you don't have shotguns. :idea:

We do actually. They've been blasting away at Wood Pigeons in the fields across the road these past two days. :eek:

I'm not well versed in the finer points of firearms laws in the UK, but there is plenty of information here:

Firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales financial year ending March 2014

A quote from the above site might be of interest.

Despite that statistic, you have to demonstrate a justifiable need to buy a shotgun or other arms.
Farmers, clay pigeon shooters and game shooters will be the usual categories but there are strict police checks made before a shotgun certificate is issued.
That's the legal side of it, but how many guns are in circulation amongst those sections of society who have a more flexible approach to the law?

Broadly speaking though Bruce, you're right. We don't have millions of ordinary people, if I can use that phrase, with a rifle resting in the corner of the kitchen or a Saturday night special in the glove box.
For all practical purposes we don't have a gun culture and I suspect most people have never handled, or even seen, a firearm of any description.
That statement might not hold true in the more dodgy pubs in certain parts of London or any of the major cities of the UK.

And ex-solders have handled them, even the Queen had fired a machine gun. But yes, I was speaking in a general manner as to nowhere near a saturation, nor readily available to someone annoyed by a drone..

Who needs a shotgun?

Fool, should have killed it in the name of fashion. ;)

Night drones at Mt Fuji..

Link