Is this really necessary at an Airshow?

[CoastieJohn]

The guy is not protecting the UAV.
He is securing the Mission package installed. nobody is going to make off with the aircraft but it only takes a few seconds to remove drives/ cards from a mission package. Why that airframe if it is configured is on display is anyones guess. Should preferably be in a secured area. The end user owns the mission package, not the Air force.
And most contractors have been there/ done that/ and done everything possible in the military. They then get out and are able to stay on the sharp end without all the paperwork and BS that accompanies the regular services.

instead of the chairborne ranger brigade making smart azz comments how about thanking the guy for doing his job? Nobody starts clapping when he walks into a restaurant after national guard weekend. But I guarantee you he's probably got more time in a deployed area than 99% of the people on this forum.

The weapon is modified for the higher power cartridges currently issued by SOCOM.

I suspect your correct about "what" is being secured. Our military packages are often contractually proprietary and then upgraded to class if/when "loaded" and you won't get near them. Who owns them?.....depends on the contract and service/agency.

Don't know about the guy...he has some type of patch on his left chest of his white shirt. Kinda wonder if a govt agency guy. All speculation on what he is.

We've done airshows/static displays with tac team members in full ninja garb and weaps next to the helo but that was by design to demonstrate the two.

At one airshow I was at years ago, a little kid...maybe 6 or 7 years old breaks from the crowd (ie...parents) runs up to our left side of the helo, grabs the VOR loop antenna and swings on it like it's a monkey bar. Of course he bent it before anyone could catch him. We had another helo come back from an airshow with one of the loops broken off from some kid swinging on it. Not sure what attracts kids to antennas??? I can fully relate to why airshow birds need to be guarded.

[Mark Allen M]

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Last edited by Mark Allen M on Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Nathan Truninger]

The gent with the AR is a Rockford Police Officer.

The drone is actually one that doesn't even fly, nor is there anything actually "in" it. From what I know, it was one that was shot down near Baghdad a few years ago and put back together with the auspices of using it as a prop or display piece.

[airnutz]

"One more a**hole comment and I'm shootin' someone...."Hey, buddy! Moonlighting your TSA job feeling-up old ladies?"...BLAM!..."One more kid hanging on the pitot tube"...Double-tap!....Douglas C. Neidermeyer III will be OBEYED....Yeahhhhh, kill 'em all, feel lucky punk?........"

[K5DH]

Douglas C. Neidermeyer III will be OBEYED

Now THAT is funny! I almost choked on a bite of peach just now!

[Mark Allen M]

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Last edited by Mark Allen M on Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

[gary1954]

IMHO the weapon is totally unnecessary with this guy in civilian garb.
The appropriate thing would have been to have a real live honest to gawd Law Enforcement (LE) representative of the United States Air Force in uniform, standing by to keep the crumb critters and standard run of the mill dumb A-double S's from picking at and climbing all over this Mega-Multi-ga-zillion dollar piece of equipment.
just my nickel (rate has sky-rocketed from the standard 2 cents worth normally given, due to inflation and well an increase of fuel costs associated with just about everything).

I have tossed this around since my previous post above. In the ultimate scheme of things who really give a rats A double s, he's out there with what appears to be an semi-auto to fully automatic weapon. let mom or dad explain it to the youngsters. Having been around weapons I just not impressed with it, unless that SOB is pointed in my direction. I'm at a point in my life today where I really just don't give a tinkers darn about the man or the weapon, Boeing had a drone up for 4 days non stop, that to me is one of two things yet to be determined, 1. more exciting, or 2. more scary.

[JDK]

Is it necessary at an airshow? Nah, but it's been currently more interesting than what the forum's for it appears - to me also.

Boeing had a drone up for 4 days non stop, that to me is one of two things yet to be determined, 1. more exciting, or 2. more scary.

Heh... "Boeing - working on 'leaving one up there' since 1916."

Regards,

[Mark Allen M]

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Last edited by Mark Allen M on Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

[RickH]

Is that the correct shade of gray on that Predator ?

[gary1954]

Is that the correct shade of gray on that Predator ?

RicK, I think you are on to something there, the paint scheme just doesn't look right does it

[Mark Allen M]

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Last edited by Mark Allen M on Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

[ZRX61]

Maybe it's just a posed pic by the cop attempting to look important. The drone is roped off from the public & the gun case is laying next to the starboard main...

[RickH]

Maybe it's just a posed pic by the cop attempting to look important. The drone is roped off from the public & the gun case is laying next to the starboard main...

...and his bullet is in his pocket !

[k5083]

Maybe it's just a posed pic by the cop attempting to look important. The drone is roped off from the public & the gun case is laying next to the starboard main...

...and his bullet is in his pocket !

No, I think he's just happy to see us.

August