GIVEAWAY TIME (STILL)
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We’ve also put on our goggles and lab coats at Skyfire HQ and are conducting a study to better understand what works for public safety. A lot of you probably got the emails already, but if you would like to participate in the study, you have to either have taken our Basic Training or gotten a COA through us! Reply to this email if you would like to take part!
THE FAA’S NEW ENFORCER
Image courtesy: Air Cargo News
You know what they say, “don’t send a drone into a territorial raptor’s airspace if you ever want to see that drone again.”. Or is that just around the Skyfire virtual water cooler? Anyway, this story has made its rounds in the drone world, but it’s just too absurd for us to not mention.
The drone, a Phantom 4 Pro Advanced, was flying a routine pattern checking for how water levels are affecting the Great Lakes when suddenly it started to spin. While it was a routine flight, and one of many that day, the ending was anything but routine. We speculate that while sipping its morning coffee, the bird was probably just tired of those crazy kids always messing around with those new fangled flying devices, disturbing the beautiful Michigan morning, and decided to take matters into its own claws. Still no word from the FAA on forthcoming enforcement action against the eagle..
SKYBORG
Photo courtesy: Popular Mechanics
Skyborg was designed for a couple of reasons, but more use cases have come up as it’s been developed. Initially the Skyborg was to be a replacement for the Predator and Reaper drones. And now they are saying it could very well be a replacement for the F-16 and other manned military aircraft.
Skyborg started out as an onboard AI to help pilots fly the plane while they were in conflict. It took some of the minor tasks off their minds allowing them greater focus to engage in aerial combat. Kind of like R2D2 in Star Wars. Once it became an aircraft, it was supposed to be a sidekick of sorts, flying alongside a manned aircraft, being used as bait in dog fights, extra payload storage, or emotional support. Just to know someone cares enough to show up… I’m fine, I’m fine.
But now with sub and supersonic models, the Skyborg would be able to replace manned aircraft altogether while being cheaper than a conventional aircraft, and keeping pilots safer. The ultimate benefit would be the Skyborg’s inability to make Top Gun references. Unless it becomes self aware…
NEW RUSSIAN STEALTH DRONE. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS??
Photo courtesy: Forbes
Well, the two superpowers are at it again. Hopefully things don’t escalate in a similar fashion though. Anywaaaay, this Russian drone called the S-70 Okhotnik, or “Hunter” for those of us who aren’t fluent in Russian, is being touted as an unprecedented behemoth in the drone world. It’s capabilities include the ability to carry 13,000 pounds of bomb ordinance and being able to fly ~3,000 miles (which isn’t even far enough to fly across all of Mother Russia). In all honesty this will probably be an impressive drone but we’ll have to wait until 2024 to see what it’s capable of. And that’s a whole year after we’ll have the Skyborg! Race already won. USA! USA! USA!
…Huh, there must be some sort of sale going on at Men’s Warehouse. There are so many guys with black suits walking around outside.
A FEW MORE FOR YOUR BRAIN
| UPCOMING EVENTS |
| Aug 26th –Dive Rescue Operation – FB Live with Gregg Schkade Sep 21st –5 – Day Integration of UAS to LE Sep 21st –1 – Day Online Part 107 Course |