How A Rogue1950's Drone Fiasco Ended With 208 Rockets Fired At Southern California

Matthew, thanks for posting this. It's been one rough week and I need the laugh.

This was a great story. It was lucky they did not kill anyone. I wonder how well they would have done with the Russian bombers. Having just read the "Miracle on the Hudson: Only 6 of 35 safety recommendations implemented after 2009 crash" squawk, I wonder if the folks that decided to remove the gun sights were later the ones who decided planes not used for "extended overwater" flights did not need to be equipped with "rafts, life vests and seat cushions that can be used for flotation." Save a buck.

The Beginning of the Modern Air Force...
Sorry, couldn't resist <grin>

OMG Matthew thanks for posting this "How to Start Fires Air Force Style" a.k.a. "The Little Red Drone that Did"...I needed a good laff this day

My uncle used to fly these out of Bangor Maine on intercepts against Russian bombers.
Remember him saying how bad the winters were there and how little flying they did because of it.
They did one air show while inverted and firing from the pods. Those days he wasn't really sure what was going to happen for sure.

nice.
but why not get billy-bob and jimbo out there with their shotgun/rifle and a case of highlife. they'd have her down before the first beer went dry.

:-)

To quote Sean Connery in League of Extraordinary gentlemen:

Allan Quatermain: Now, would you like to learn to shoot?
Tom Sawyer: I can already.
Allan Quatermain: Oh, I saw. Very American. Fire enough bullets and hope to hit the target.

That also reminded me of the JLENS aerostat that broke away in February of this year at Aberdeen Proving Ground, then dragged it's 6000 foot tether across Pennsylvania, severing power lines across the state.

Several fires burned 1000 acres in the 50's. Another 50 years of fuel build up and see what Calif. fires look like now.