Gatwick closed by drones
Discussion
chrisga said:
jdw100 said:
Fundamentally could I sit at home here with my feet up a good few thousands of miles away and play havoc with Gatwick until someone shoots me (well, my drone) down?
Probably. At least until the battery ran out.With something like a DJi drone, you can't operate them other than within about a 2 or 3 mile radius.
The Mavic Air for example (which I have and is so small at about 10" across so you probably wouldn't even see it over an airfield) has a usable operating distance of about 1 mile in total clear unobstructed visibility. Start adding buildings and trees and you won't get too far at all.
If (and for me it's a big if) there is a drone and it's big enough to see from some distance away from a camera then you are talking about many thousands of pounds worth of equipment and out of the reach of an amateur drone pilot. That could possibly be flown totally remotely, I know nothing about those.
Interestingly in the UK DJi have now reduced the usable radio distance on their amateur drones to about a mile or so and as I mentioned above that's with total clear line of sight. In the US the same drones have a usable distance of many miles, up to 5 or more given the right conditions. I'm told you can fiddle with the UK drone to try and confuse it to think it's on the states and thus have a greater operating distance but I haven't tried that myself.
Guybrush said:
Still no pictures, no journalists interviewing witnesses?
The only witnesses seem to be police officers and a few lines on the BBC website that claim one of their journos also saw something while driving along the M25. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46804425
Cold said:
Guybrush said:
Still no pictures, no journalists interviewing witnesses?
The only witnesses seem to be police officers and a few lines on the BBC website that claim one of their journos also saw something while driving along the M25. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46804425
beeeb said:
BBC cameraman Martin Roberts, who works with drones, said he was driving on the M25 past Heathrow airport at about 17:45 GMT when he saw what he believes was a drone.
"I could see, I'd say around 300 feet up, very bright, stationary flashing red and green lights, over the Harmondsworth area," he said.
"I could tell it was a drone - these things have got quite distinctive lights - not a helicopter."
17:45 = dark "I could see, I'd say around 300 feet up, very bright, stationary flashing red and green lights, over the Harmondsworth area," he said.
"I could tell it was a drone - these things have got quite distinctive lights - not a helicopter."
anyone seen a plane appear to be stationary over heathrow with red and green lights?
Forgive the link and the possibility of their being no connection at all but we had this happen recently:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6564453/K...
Which was a test to see what chaos will be caused on the roads for a No Deal Brexit.
Now how could they do the same sort of test at airports
(sorry for bringing the B word into it
)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6564453/K...
Which was a test to see what chaos will be caused on the roads for a No Deal Brexit.
Now how could they do the same sort of test at airports
(sorry for bringing the B word into it
)saaby93 said:
Cold said:
Guybrush said:
Still no pictures, no journalists interviewing witnesses?
The only witnesses seem to be police officers and a few lines on the BBC website that claim one of their journos also saw something while driving along the M25. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46804425
beeeb said:
BBC cameraman Martin Roberts, who works with drones, said he was driving on the M25 past Heathrow airport at about 17:45 GMT when he saw what he believes was a drone.
"I could see, I'd say around 300 feet up, very bright, stationary flashing red and green lights, over the Harmondsworth area," he said.
"I could tell it was a drone - these things have got quite distinctive lights - not a helicopter."
17:45 = dark "I could see, I'd say around 300 feet up, very bright, stationary flashing red and green lights, over the Harmondsworth area," he said.
"I could tell it was a drone - these things have got quite distinctive lights - not a helicopter."
anyone seen a plane appear to be stationary over heathrow with red and green lights?
WestyCarl said:
At 300ft my drone pretty much disappears from sight, even at night (with red and green lights), spotting one while driving and being sure enough to report it
And being able to estimate the height of an object of unknown size in the night sky just by some flashing nights. While driving past. Father Ted would have been impressed.WestyCarl said:
saaby93 said:
Cold said:
Guybrush said:
Still no pictures, no journalists interviewing witnesses?
The only witnesses seem to be police officers and a few lines on the BBC website that claim one of their journos also saw something while driving along the M25. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46804425
beeeb said:
BBC cameraman Martin Roberts, who works with drones, said he was driving on the M25 past Heathrow airport at about 17:45 GMT when he saw what he believes was a drone.
"I could see, I'd say around 300 feet up, very bright, stationary flashing red and green lights, over the Harmondsworth area," he said.
"I could tell it was a drone - these things have got quite distinctive lights - not a helicopter."
17:45 = dark "I could see, I'd say around 300 feet up, very bright, stationary flashing red and green lights, over the Harmondsworth area," he said.
"I could tell it was a drone - these things have got quite distinctive lights - not a helicopter."
anyone seen a plane appear to be stationary over heathrow with red and green lights?
TeamD said:
pingu393 said:
You are obviously nothing to do with LEMAC (Long Eaton Model Aircraft Club). They fly in a field just over two miles from the EMA runway.
Ah! Ok, no, I'm south of the 453 
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