Originally Posted by
AZFlyer
Just seems a littler counter-intuitive that a 40 year old manned spy plane costs less to operate than a modern UAV.
Counter intuitive until you learn that here at CBP, our UAVs take about 12 people to launch and recover. In Houston they have to have guys all over the city with binos in case it loses link - on the beach, on top of a parking garage, etc. & a dedicated chase crew in the citation. Not to mention the minute wind limits and airspace issues.