Some of that. Not much. Biology work, search and rescue, wildlife research, closed area patrol, etc. $25/hr v. $600/hr. Trying to find that balance between efficiency and cost management.
I seriously would consider trikes. Cheap to buy, fly, and maintain; and you can trim them to fly really slow. They're also easier to fly than airplanes, and
much easier to fly than any RC plane or simulator I've ever
crashed flown.
As an aside, Dr. Bruce is right. Even joking about shooting down a manned aircraft is the kind of thing that can get you in a heap of trouble, and rightfully so.
Lord knows I've said plenty of stupid things in my life, too, so I'm not losing any sleep over it. The day I become perfect is the day I'll hold other people to that standard. But it's not something I'd suggest you ever say again... especially in a public forum. Neither those of us who fly nor those who regulate us find any humor in it.
Now, to answer my own question about why I shouldn't shoot down your drone, the answer is because crippling
any aircraft would create a danger to people in the air and on the ground. That's the answer I was hoping for.
Again, my purpose in asking was to illustrate that drones are just as big a risk (actually, more so, in my opinion) than manned aircraft.
Anyway, consider the trikes. Oh, and by the way: They're a heck of a lot of fun to fly, too.
-Rich
