https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/20/uk/gatwick-airport-drones-gbr-intl/index.html
It's been closed for over 12 hours so far.
What happened to the control hijacking systems, GPS spoofing, some shotguns loaded with birdshot, etc? I've been brainstorming a "rebel fighter drone" design in my spare time and I used to think it was pretty clever, but this makes me think it was a complete waste of time.
I have a feeling that the tech exists, its just not proliferated enough to be handy to resolve the situation.
That said, this was the much more alarming thing involving drones in the last year or so. https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/americas/venezuela-s-maduro-survives-drone-attack-assassination-attempt-1.6341741
I think it's 24 hours now , the UK cops said stray bullets were there concern if they tried to shoot it down .....well I think there is more than one or they have super batteries......
No mention on the size of this drone , hopefully it's not just a $100 one that anyone could go out and buy ,
Drones stopped some of the planes that were fighting the California fires last month.......
Net guns? I think those are a thing. If they're not a thing who wants to get in on building them with me?
Doesn't the UK love it's sporting shotguns?
Just let Lord Bottomtooth and his friends loose at the airport.
ShawnG said:Doesn't the UK love it's sporting shotguns?
Just let Lord Bottomtooth and his friends loose at the airport.
That would be like a bad Bugs Bunny cartoon :)
Just limit the shot size to #8 shot. What's the worst that could happen?
1988RedT2 said:Just limit the shot size to #8 shot. What's the worst that could happen?
Not much as it just floats back down. I have had it rained on me in the past. I think if it really is a bigger drone it has vision and so it would just avoid the guys with guns. Your not hitting anything far out with a 7.5-8# shot.
What if they're not shooting at them because it's actually an alien craft and doing so would be a declaration of war? 
wearymicrobe said:1988RedT2 said:Just limit the shot size to #8 shot. What's the worst that could happen?
Not much as it just floats back down. I have had it rained on me in the past. I think if it really is a bigger drone it has vision and so it would just avoid the guys with guns. Your not hitting anything far out with a 7.5-8# shot.
That's why you put the shotguns on your own drones.
In reply to GameboyRMH :
There's a lot of legal issues with using them in countries that assert any control over their radio spectrum.
When I was in Afghanistan we had one setup after a number of similar incidents. Basically they would blast a "go home" or "emergency land" signal over the known spectrums the hobby drones operated on. That was a few years ago, I'm sure the systems are better now.
The Dutch are using Hawks trained to go after drones....
Many airports use Hawks etc to keep the birds away
I am sure in the next few days someone will dig up the video footage of the Hawks attacking.....
I hate this. Things like this make it exponentially harder for me to have legal fun with my R/C airplanes.
This was done at night. Hawks probably wouldn’t work. Can you train an owl?
The solution is this: Put a bounty on each offending drone. Five hundred to one thousand pounds Sterling should be enough. Open the perimeter of the airport to sportsmen with shotguns and birdshot. Problem solved. What could make air travelers feel safer than seeing a bunch of people toting shotguns aiming at the skies around the airport?
Update: The airport's just reopened.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/21/uk/gatwick-airport-drone-shutdown-intl-gbr/index.html
If they put away the person who did this for the amount of other people's time he's wasted, he'd get about 400 years in jail.
Update 2: Sigh, spoke too soon, the bastard is back. At least I don't have to update the link above.
Just before the airport re-closed the police were quoted as saying that they were much more ready for taking care of rogue drones now...well I hope whatever they've got now is finished charging because it's time to prove it.
I wonder whether the authorities have thought to check YouTube for video from the drone dude? It's gotta be out there somewhere.
Streetwiseguy said:I wonder whether the authorities have thought to check YouTube for video from the drone dude? It's gotta be out there somewhere.
Not necessarily. He could just be keeping it to himself, or sharing it anonymously if he's careful. The vast majority of models don't automatically upload video.
I bet, regardless of who owns the drone, when they catch the perp the operator will be a minor to try and avoid jail time. I hope they completely throw the book at him/her. Owner and operator.
Worse, I bet there’s a copy cat over here within six months.
GameboyRMH said:Streetwiseguy said:I wonder whether the authorities have thought to check YouTube for video from the drone dude? It's gotta be out there somewhere.
Not necessarily. He could just be keeping it to himself, or sharing it anonymously if he's careful. The vast majority of models don't automatically upload video.
No, but your average douche can't resist bragging.
Update: Two suspects arrested. A middle-aged man and woman.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/22/uk/gatwick-airport-drone-arrests-gbr-intl/index.html
Drones don't cause disruptions at airports. People cause disruptions at airports.
In reply to 1988RedT2 :
Sometimes they use drones though.
The drones just make it way easier to do and very difficult to stop.
At least now it appears they may not be too hard to catch. Of course, if they don’t care if they loose the drone, I am not sure you could catch them. A couple hundred dollars it cheap money to disrupt a good percentage of the air traffic in Europe.
You'll need to log in to post.
