[Scan-DC] Interesting aircraft over Seven Corners

[Charles Lawson]

Charley Armstrong <armstrong.c at verizon.net> writes:
>UAV's are not authorized for use in most US civil airspace at the  
>moment.  There is no way for the UAV "pilot" to "see and avoid" other  
>air traffic.

The latter statement is certainly true, but it is not preventing the
former statement from being obviated through regulation.

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/leadnews/192465-1.html

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:h5Ig7kqwGL0J:www.acq.osd.mil/uas/docs/airspace2.doc+uavs+in+civilian+airspace&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

What lead me to believe this *might* have been a UAV was the unusual sound
(though I can't discount helicopter at a low power setting at high
altitude) and the complete absence of other air traffic--as though this
might have been a test of some sort.  If I knew what a Predator sounds
like, I could confirm that's what I heard.

At the moment, it certainly seems more likely to have been a helicopter
based on the information provided by other list members.  If it shows up
again while I'm out with the telescope, I should be able to get a better
look at it.  It was moving plenty slowly enough to track by hand with a
telescope.

Thanks, everyone.

P.S.: Speaking of UAVs, there are several on display downtown at NASM in
the southern atrium.  Pop in, if you're interested.


--
Charles Lawson <clawson at capaccess.org>
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