Enemy Ace wrote:
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.