Is this really necessary at an Airshow?

[Richard W.]

A few years ago, some loons attempted to throw red paint (symbolic blood) onto the Enola Gay at the Udvar-Hazy museum. The guards were able to prevent this because they paused to give some kind of speech before flinging it.

I would think that drone is more at risk from those kind of protesters than from organized sabotage or espionage. I wonder what he would do if some hippies rushed the a/c. I don't think he'd get away with shooting them...

They would be better served by stationing a couple of real cops or sheriff's deputies on each side.

[gale_dono]

It's pretty funny, considering I was able to crawl all around an MQ-1 at the Dayton Airshow a year or two ago, even under to get wheelwell detail shots, and no one said a word. Maybe it's because this is an MQ-9, I dunno.

[Tailspin Turtle]

Back in 1967 or so, when anybody could drive on the base at Edwards, the Lockheed SR-71/A-12 would be accompanied to, at, and from the ground run area at Contractors' Row by two uniformed Pinkertons with side arms.

[TROJANII]

In all the years I knew Clair, I am amazed we did not go to jail.

Story #1 While at the Wings Over Pittsburgh Airshow Clair was trying to take a pic of the F-117. He needed to get like one step closer to get a good shot, but the cones where up. Clair asked the guard if he could just get a foot closer for the pic. The man said, "You can do anything you want but pass that cone." So Clair pushed the cone back a foot and took the picture being sure to never cross it.

Story#2 One afternoon after volunteering at the NMUSAF Clair and I were watching a C-5 do touch and go's att Wright Pat from public property across the street from the end of the runway. If you go to Wright Pat, you know where I am talking about. A MP stopped on the other side of the fence and said, "You are not allowed to sit there." Clair replied, "But we are on public property!" The MP said "Move or I am going to give you a citation." Clair taking notice of where we are and where he is replies with, "But you are over there. The gate is 3 miles away over there. I'll be gone before you can get here." From the MP nothing but silence, however we got the heck out of there.

No MP's in the Air Force since 1948, when they became AP's, then SP's, and now SF.

[seabee1526]

Wow, can't even take a cooler or glass bottles into YIP during TOM, but this?

[Boeing666]

I don't think the gun is necessary especially from some civilian dressed douche from some controversial company like Blackwater or something. If you don't want people touching it put a REAL MP in front of it.

It is nothing new to have guards in front of aircraft, everytime there is an F-22 on static display there is at least one or two MPs with M-16s but this is the first time I seen some civilian looking guy guarding the plane. I do not feel comfortable with a guy like this guarding a plane nor what qualifies him to carry that weapon? I am more and more concerned about these Blackwater type operations in the U.S. as it will be probably them coming to our door to collect our guns when the government abolishes the second amendment

i spoke my 2 cents

[Boeing666]

It's pretty funny, considering I was able to crawl all around an MQ-1 at the Dayton Airshow a year or two ago, even under to get wheelwell detail shots, and no one said a word. Maybe it's because this is an MQ-9, I dunno.

Was it a real one or a replica? At Jacksonville Air Show they had a full scale Predator mock up that looked like the real thing a couple years ago.

[over/out]

This Dil. REALLY needs to have a night out with some "Special" South American "Ladies" It would have looked alot more BADA** with an MP/POLICE DOG!!

[Pathfinder]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9632389@N0 ... /lightbox/

Same bird!

LOVE those D-Day Invasion Stripes on the tail feathers!!!

....speaking of D-Day.....68 years ago...tonight.....actually now in France!

[Clifford Bossie]

And in the interest of drones WITHOUT weird dudes with guns in front of them, here are some Predator and Reaper shots. (The active duty, guard and reserve service members have always been friendly in my experience.)

















The Armed Forces put them on display for the taxpayers to see them, so I will avail myself of that opportunity.

[Kyleb]

Also reminds me of the first F-117 I saw at an airshow at NAS Atlanta in 1989. They had just come out of the closet, and on Saturday and Sunday it was on the ramp surrounded by a phalanx of Marines armed to the teeth, to keep the great unwashed from messing with it. On Monday, there was a photo op with a Stearman, and no Marines. You could walk right up to it - no problem.

Walt

I was at that show too and remember the Marines. Didn't they have the area behind the airplane blocked to prevent you from taking photos of the exhaust? Of course, that just meant everyone *had* to find the best possible allowable angle to get a photo of the exhaust.

[ChrisDNT]

Just another kind of "drama queen".

[Randy Haskin]

Thanks for posting that original photo -- that gave me a good laugh.

[lmritger]

A few years ago, some loons attempted to throw red paint (symbolic blood) onto the Enola Gay at the Udvar-Hazy museum. The guards were able to prevent this because they paused to give some kind of speech before flinging it.

I would think that drone is more at risk from those kind of protesters than from organized sabotage or espionage. I wonder what he would do if some hippies rushed the a/c. I don't think he'd get away with shooting them...

They would be better served by stationing a couple of real cops or sheriff's deputies on each side.

That was opening day of the Udvar-Hazy museum in 2003, and I was 20 feet from said individual of questionable judgement... he actually DID hit the aircraft with the bottle, making a small dent, but the paint somehow didn't splash until the bottle/can/whatever hit the concrete, whereupon it splattered pretty good. But not quite as good as the fartknocker who found himself at the bottom of a very aggressive dogpile built entirely of pissed-off security types! Good times, good times.

The extra security was in place because there were protesters all over the joint, as this was the first real showing of "Enola Gay" since her full restoration- all of whom save one were polite and respectful.

Lynn

[gary1954]

anyone see the article on Boeing’s Phantom Surveillance Drone Flies Over Battlefields for Four Days Straight