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Old 03-24-2014, 06:09 AM
  #7  
Cubdriver
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Joined APC: May 2006
Position: ATP, CFI etc.
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We already have drone helos and we have some drone airplanes, this will be the first real combination of the two features one unmanned craft, namely speed and VTOL capability. We had a discussion a few months ago about how drones, or non-piloted UAVs, might integrate with manned aircraft (Amazon drones, should we worry?), and this VTOL/Osprey type drone could do it better than any other kind since it does not require a runway. A helipad maybe, but no runway. I doubt Amazon would be able to use drones as large as these VTOL x-planes when they are scaled up, but long range package delivery could make use of them and will almost certainly hold some interest in their arrival. For example, that new crate motor you want from Texas to your Washington home might be auto-loaded onto a VTOL drone and auto-offloaded at a local drone pickup point. Or to your place of business or home if you have a legal helipad there. I can think of other uses, but that would be a practical one. It is a little scary to visualize these things driving themselves around in the sky but it would solve a lot of problems with integrating drones and piloted aircraft.
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