quote:

Originally posted by Flashlightboy:

quote:

Originally posted by DrDan:

quote:

Originally posted by Flashlightboy:

But I say someone should shoot one down. Try to keep it, and see who complains the loudest. That'll ID the owner.

You first.

I'm in CA and these things are in NJ. So are you saying I should go with a full choke?

And a good lead!

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
To believe that these drones are someone else’s, you have to believe that our military lacks the ability, capability, authority, or resolve to take one down, which is absurd, or that our military is just somehow OK with people flying drones around military bases, which is equally absurd.

Well they were fine with Chinese spy baloons. So there's that.

From reading the Wikipedia entry about the spy balloon, Link, it seems we weren’t exactly fine with it. We monitored it from launch, sent a half dozen or more aircraft up to take pictures, jam its signals, determine its capabilities, etc. Then we shot it down and its 2,000 pound payload over water, recovered the payload, and further analyzed it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: trapper189,

Remember back in the late 80's to early 90's the increase of triangle shaped black aircraft in Arizona, Nevada, California ??? Then about a year later the US Government publicly admitted and revealed the US Stealth B2 Bomber and F117 aircrafts. These drones are ours. Maybe our government will do the same and publicly admit it soon. God Bless

Not a lot of private citizens in New Jersey with the (legal) ability to shoot anything down.
That leaves the state or federal government to do the job.

An FBI official said yesterday at a congressional hearing that they have no idea what or who is controlling the drones over NJ.

At the hearing, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-Texas), asked "You're telling me we don't know what the hell these drones in New Jersey are?"

Robert Wheeler Jr., assistant director of the Critical Incident Response Group for the FBI, replied, "That's correct."

"That's crazy," Gonzalez replied. "That's madness."

So that leaves two possibilities. Nobody knows what is behind these drones. Or the military is not sharing any information with the FBI.

https://www.northjersey.com/st...hind-it/76896895007/

quote:

Originally posted by Fed161:
An FBI official said yesterday at a congressional hearing that they have no idea what or who is controlling the drones over NJ.

There is no way in hell I believe that.

The FBI admits they don’t have clue. Seems plausible.

This is from my local news were a Chinese national was arrested in SFO trying to board a flight to China after he was caught flying a drone over Vandenberg AFB that was purposeful flight.

My takes from the story are: The Chinese could be behind the drones although a car sized drone would be hard to launch from most anywhere, and 2. Vandenberg had anti-drone technology in place which suggests to me that they have it at other sensitive bases too and as a result, they aren't arresting people because the drones are ours.

Chinese national arrested for drone flight over Vandenberg

quote:

At the hearing, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-Texas), asked "You're telling me we don't know what the hell these drones in New Jersey are?"

Robert Wheeler Jr., assistant director of the Critical Incident Response Group for the FBI, replied, "That's correct."

"That's crazy," Gonzalez replied. "That's madness."

So that leaves two possibilities. Nobody knows what is behind these drones. Or the military is not sharing any information with the FBI.

1. If they aren't ours we ought to be shooting them down.
2. If they ARE ours, how does it get to the point of hearings before Congress? They should have been briefed, to avoid the hearing.
3. I'm tired of our government lying to the American people in the name of "security". I can handle the truth.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
I can handle the truth.

Which version of the truth will it be?
Will it be the Russians, Chinese or right wing nationals?

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
From reading the Wikipedia entry about the spy balloon, Link, it seems we weren’t exactly fine with it. We monitored it from launch, sent a half dozen or more aircraft up to take pictures, jam its signals, determine its capabilities, etc. Then we shot it down and its 2,000 pound payload over water, recovered the payload, and further analyzed it.

Are you shitting me?

The spy balloon that loitered for DAYS over some of our most sensitive sites and the Biden regime had the opportunity 100 times over to shoot down? The balloon that they ONLY acted on after it traversed the ENTIRE friggen' US and then started going back home?

The only reason they even acted at all finally was the public outcry.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:


To believe that these drones are someone else’s, you have to believe that our military lacks the ability, capability, authority, or resolve to take one down, which is absurd, or that our military is just somehow OK with people flying drones around military bases, which is equally absurd.

I fully believe that's what happened. They got analysis paralysis and no one had the balls to make a call.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:
1. If they aren't ours we ought to be shooting them down.

I have thought this myself. Guess things are more wide open here in Tx but I have a feeling that if it was happening around here every night with no one coming forward with info on them that they would be get shot at and brought down. If it’s the Gov doing it they would show up at bubbas door pretty quick with handcuffs.

The same DoD that has men wearing dresses, high heels, makeup and sporting tits to rival Dolly Parton, I have no trouble believing all the UFO/UAP/Drone crap to be something to stir up fear for more money and control by the Military Industrial Complex.

They have to have a boogie man. If you don't have one handy, create one.

quote:

Originally posted by Fed161:

So that leaves two possibilities. Nobody knows what is behind these drones. Or the military is not sharing any information with the FBI.

Third possibility: FBI dude is lying. Could that even happen? FBI lying?

Lawmaker makes wild claim about mysterious drones over New Jersey after FBI admits it has no explanation

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...ones-new-jersey.html

Rep. Jeff Van Drew stunningly claimed Iran is behind the mysterious drones sighted flying over northern New Jersey as the FBI scrambles for answers.

The Republican lawmaker from New Jersey told Fox News that Iran has launched a 'mothership' about a month ago that contains the drones off the coast.

'These are from high sources,' he claimed. 'I don't say this lightly.' He added that they should be 'shot down.'

More at link

Pentagon denies lawmaker's claim that New Jersey drones are from Iran

"There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called ‘mothership’ launching drones toward the United States,"

https://www.foxnews.com/media/...mothership-shot-down

quote:

Originally posted by hjs157:
Pentagon denies lawmaker's claim that New Jersey drones are from Iran

"There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called ‘mothership’ launching drones toward the United States,"

https://www.foxnews.com/media/...mothership-shot-down

My version of the Babylon Bee:

When asked if there was a ship flagged from another country that had docked, loaded several large shipping containers, and then traveled from Iran to the drone area.......No comment.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jsbcody,

The drones flying around at night should not be a big deal. It is legal if under 400 feet in altitude and using Remote ID protocols that have been required since earlier this year. Some areas near airports may be restricted to 100 feet or wholly restricted. If there is a TFR in place or an extended TFR, it's a no-go zone for drones.

Some drones allow you to fly anywhere and anytime, so you can break the FAA regulations. There are ways to bypass drones that are "locked up" when you try to start them within a zero-foot box. I'm sure plenty of drones do not have Remote ID. Both of my DJI drones - both more than two years old - do have Remote ID now.

Yes, I know it's inappropriate to be hovering 50 feet over backyards. Yes, I know you should not follow people. For many enthusiasts, drones offer incredible ways to get great images and video, quickly inspect their properties, or fly commercially for real estate projects. Drones allow for pictures and video that previously could only be captured by helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft.

Here is the FAA Facility Map showing UAS pilots restricted areas and where you'd need to apply for LAANC approval (usually immediate) or an FAA waiver that can take quite some time.

Commercial and recreational drones can also be flown at night with the appropriate anti-collision lights.

Many FAA regulations are logical. Some seem unreasonable. For example, I can't legally fly my drones 10 feet in the air in my backyard because I live within a zero-foot box (see the facility map). I'd need to apply for an FAA waiver. (I've done this to get video and images of my house.)

The AP article in the OP mentions...

quote:

The flights initially raised questions in part because they took place near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

Most of the drones have been spotted along coastal areas, and some of the devices were recently spotted over a large reservoir in Clinton.

The Picatinny Arsenal address usually does not have any of the restrictions above. There is a temporary flight restriction over the arsenal through Dec. 26. (They implemented the TFR in late November and simultaneously implemented one over Bedminster.)

In general, if you can take off legally from a place where you can fly over the facility and have a visual line of sight of the drone during the day or night, you're good to go unless there is a TFR or other regulation.

One side gig I have had is flying a drone for solar installation inspections. I'm legally flying over homes, taking images in a circle pattern around the house and a grid pattern over the roof. Without a doubt, I'm almost always flying over other properties and homes during the process. Sometimes, something happens, and I have to repeat the pattern. I frequently fly these patterns between 80 and 100 feet.

If someone took the opportunity to "shoot down" one of my drones, it would be a federal crime and possibly a state, town or city crime.

Two words: Philadelphia Experiment