What do you make about this drone at gatwick airport

[Gavin John Hyde]

Sure you have all heard or seen on news somebody has decided to send up a drone over the airport causing chaos.
Makes you wonder who it is? dont think its some loner in his or her bedroom as it is apparently commercial grade. Did wonder if it is some protest group? but no claim to fame by them just yet. Might even be some state sponsored outfit causing mischief.
Either way if they get caught they are getting a few years.
Apparently the police say it is too unsafe to shoot it down due to 'stray' bullets! suggest they get a better marksmen then and use different ammo. Now got the signals folk trying to triangulate the signal to control it.
I think there is a lot lot more that has not been said on the news about this strange case.

 

[Rpa07]

I believe you but the only thing I don’t believe is that sky, looks like a gentle breeze to go along with it!
You could go off people, you know!

As I said in a recent previous thread, it’s dangerous to make assumptions PS those are my legs and that was my beer

 

[MFS Electrical]

Double post

 

[MFS Electrical]

The Russians are coming.....

The Russians?, zee Germans?what scaremongering is next?
It’s probably an EU drone there are consequences for brexit and this is it in the testing phase

Or should I say, those were my legs and that is my beer

Legless?

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Another problem with shooting it down, is in order to get a prosecution the operator has to be caught in the act with the remote that controls the drone.
If it's shot down the operator will just drive off, as I doubt they are stupid enough to do it from a fixed location.

Forensics are pretty good if you touch something metal without gloves, even wiping your prints away doesnt work. The oils and chemicals on your fingertip leave a residue that can be used to retrieve prints.
If its petrol powered as some have hinted in news then fuel can be tracked to batches via chemical markers and stations.
Forensics is quite scary

 

[littlespark]

FOR SALE
Remote control drone, only used once, - good flyer.
Collect Gatwick area

 

[Strima]

I want to know what batteries they’re using. I can’t even get 16 hours out of my phone...

 

[Rpa07]

Forensics are pretty good if you touch something metal without gloves, even wiping your prints away doesnt work. The oils and chemicals on your fingertip leave a residue that can be used to retrieve prints.
If its petrol powered as some have hinted in news then fuel can be tracked to batches via chemical markers and stations.
Forensics is quite scary

Yep, all that will take about 43 minutes on TV but about 6 weeks in real life!

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I know somebody in crawley which is half a mile from gatwick.
Took his dog out for walk tonight and says there are quite a few folk from the military and 'security services out'. He is ex forces himself and says you know who they are as they have ear pieces in and still half swing arms when walking! Stands out a mile.
Still think there is more to this than is being let on by the powers that be.its a good chance for the boffins to use there new toys to bring it down.

 

[freddo]

Probably being flown by Theresa, to create a distraction.

 

[FatAlan]

Probably being flown by Theresa, to create a distraction.

No she wouldn’t do it but she would get my MP Jeremy the spineless *unt to do it.

 

[Squid]

Probably being flown by Theresa, to create a distraction.

Is that the first "blame it on Brexit" post regarding this issue?

 

[Deleted member 105166]

There's a few things wrong with this whole situation. I'm no drone expert, however don't understand:

• from the comfort of a UK or US air base, the military can take out an individual on a different continent using an unmanned aircraft, yet are unable to catch either the drone or the persons operating little more than a toy, within a few square miles.

• Ofcom are able to track and confiscate equipment in cases of unauthorised use of RF spectrum (for example, PMSE users operating on TV channels no longer available for PMSE use). I would have thought Ofcom's expertise would have been called upon quite early on in the operation, however haven't read so much as a single article even mentioning their involvement (if any).

• I can understand the police helicopters not wanting to get too close to the drone, in case it was loaded, however an Apache helicopter could have been quickly deployed to destroy it in mid air.

• Even more basic, why could a larger drone not have been sent up to chase and either net it or simply crash into it, sending both to the ground?

• It is reported that the drone kept disappearing and reappearing, why were Police drones not locked on to follow it? It must have been landed and re-fueled several times, unless it has some awesome batteries inside! Yet no one knows where it disappeared to, or reappeared from...

 

[Wilko]

Hi Tony - agree, they don't seem to have put the A team on it.

 

[FatAlan]

I think this situation reveals exactly how impotent the authorities are. Ofcom are a regulatory authority and will in no way have the capability of dealing with a fast time incident on an authorised RF presumably set aside for all drone users.
Some how I can’t see an Apache Helicopter being allowed to unleash high calibre machine guns over Gatwick airport to try and hit a tiny and agile drone. More likely to hit poor Mrs Miggins of Crawley sipping her cup of tea in her living room whilst perusing the latest offerings of electriciansforums.co.uk

 

[DPG]

You've got to remember that they won't release all the details of this while it is still on-going. There will be far more activity and agencies involved than you think.