By Katie Sanders and Luis Perez, Times Staff Writers
In Print: Tuesday, April 6, 2010 -- [Last modified: Apr 06, 2010 09:32 AM]
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MADEIRA BEACH — A commercial fisherman towed a military practice drone from the Gulf of Mexico to a marina here Monday, deputies said.
Pinellas sheriff's deputies said Glenn Edward Davis, 62, of Seminole, hauled the drone about 60 miles behind his boat, the Miss Rita, to the Holiday Isle Marina, at 555½ 150th Ave.
The carbon fiber drone is about 20 feet long and 15 feet wide at its widest part, deputies said. It has a jet engine, is orange and white, and is designed to be shot down by fighter jets.
The drone was not dangerous. "It wasn't carrying anything explosive and didn't appear to have any immediate threat to anyone, said Cecilia Barreda, spokeswoman for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Still, authorities kept the public away as a military explosives team from MacDill Air Force Base examined the drone. Lt. Mark Graff, a spokesman for MacDill, said the drone belongs to Eglin Air Force Base, just east of Pensacola. The military regularly conducts aircraft and weapons testing there.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/drone-found-in-gulf-is-from-eglin-air-force-base/1085229
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Crashed Air Force Drone Found Near Fort Morgan
http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/crashed_air_force_drone_found_near_fort_morgan/12640/Jul-31-2008_1-55-am/
WKRG.com News
Published: Wed, April 09, 2008 - 5:25 pm CST
More information is being learned about the Air Force equipment found on a beach near Fort Morgan. According to Captain Carrie Kessler, at Eglin Air Force Base, the drone is an aerial target that is shot down as part of a weapons system evaluation program. It poses no danger to the public. They usually try and recover the drones right away but in this case, sometimes it just isn’t possible. Military officials are on their way to retrieve the drone at this time. It is not known when the target was shot down and that may not be able to be determined even after the target is recovered.
The Fort Morgan Fire Department says the drone went down in the water near The Beach Club. The Air Force has a crew on the way to the crash site and so does News 5. We'll bring you more information as soon as we get it.
- The Air Force tries to recover the drones right away. But that apparently did not happen in this case.
- The drone was found by two men on Spring Break who were swimming in the Gulf. They told News 5's Pat Peterson that if the Air Force doesn't show up to get it, they'll sell the drone on eBay.
6:15 p.m. -- Based on the description News 5 gave to the Air Force, a spokesperson for Tyndall Air Force Base says she believes the drone is something pilots use for target practice during training missions.
5:35 p.m. -- News 5's Pat Peterson is at the crash site. He says the orange drone appears to be about 12 feet long. It also has Air Force markings on it.
5:25 p.m. -- The Coast Guard tells News 5 an unmanned Air Force drone has crashed off the coast of Fort Morgan.
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RELATED STORIES
AIR FORCE TIMES COVERS April 6th, 2010 Drine Story at Madiera Beach
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/04/ap_target_drone_040610/
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Killer drones may soon save lives, too
Posted on April 30, 2010
Written by Jim Flannery
Unmanned Predator is being tested for search-and-rescue and anti-smuggling roles.
http://www.soundingsonline.com/news/coastwise/253812-killer-drones-may-soon-save-lives-too
"Domestic use of unmanned aircraft has caused some concern because the drones have a higher crash rate than manned aircraft."
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Drones May Be Used in Gulf of Mexico
TITUSVILLE, Fla., Feb. 22 , 2010 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard commander says unarmed drones may be used in the Gulf of Mexico for drug surveillance and rescue efforts.
Admiral Thad W. Allen said drones will be tested at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, starting in March, with the intent of using them on missions in the gulf, The St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times said Sunday.
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/02/22/Drones-may-be-used-in-Gulf-of-Mexico/UPI-74451266856978/
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Drone crashes on take-off from Holloman
Posted 8/28/2006 Updated 9/8/2006 by Mr. Arlan Ponder 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
8/28/2006 - HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- An unmanned QF-4E crashed on take-off August 10 here sending a black cloud of smoke into the air that could be seen for miles.
http://www.holloman.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123026064
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Duel over the Gulf of Mexico:
William Tell: intercepting drones, Noble Eagle homeland defense aircrew scramble and more
Airman, Feb, 2005 by Kevin J. Gruenwald
Eight years have passed since fighter pilots last "locked on" to "enemy" targets and dueled in the skies over the Gulf of Mexico during a William Tell exercise.
The Air Force's many global commitments contributed to the exercise's hiatus. However, the 50th anniversary of the air-to-air event was worth the wait.
"Most of us work in a competitive environment, but seldom actually get to experience the nerves and pressure associated with true competition," said Capt. Travis Hazeltine of the 19th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. "William Tell gives you a chance to experience that and the opportunity to perform accordingly."
More: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IBP/is_2_49/ai_n13794854/
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GULF RANGE DRONE CONTROL SYSTEMS
http://herley-msi.com/index.php
In 2009, Senator Bill Nelson (FL) saw a National Security conflict with Oil Drilling off the Florida coast. Did Nelson foresee a hazard with military practice targets firing overhead a BP Oil Rig?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba_c4tLRpBc
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