"I can hear the BP helicopter flying overhead, likely looking for stragglers in the field."IMO, the use of Ultra-Lights makes more sense in that environment, especially for the Minutemen, since they are one to two orders of magnitudes cheaper in cost, anyone can legally fly them, they're extremely easy to fly, they can land and take off any where (I've used driveways and parking lots), they run on the same type of gas your auto uses (I've taxied into gas stations). Check out the small local air strips in your area and you'll find ultra-lights there and it won't be hard to get the owners to cooperate with the project.
--Boot Hill
I love the idea. You don't need or even want much altitude to observe an area, you can radio in everything you see, and there's all kinds of open space in the desert for take off and landing.
Plus, I've always wanted an excuse to get and fly an ultralight. Thanks! Now, does anyone have a good, used ultralight they'd want to lend me/give to me?
Ultralight plane crash kills Willcox man An ultralight airplane crash in a Southeastern Arizona canyon has killed a Willcox man. Cochise County Sheriff's deputies arriving at the crash site Wednesday afternoon found the body of 57-year-old Pete Brunner.Why do you think he was keeping watch over his family's ranch with an ultralight? Maybe looking at cattle and such. Possibly watching for illegal aliens messing with his ranch. Quite possible.The owner of Leroy Airport, an ultralight airport about 12 miles south of Willcox, said Brunner had flown out of there that morning as he had regularly for about 12 years.
Officials say a half-hour after his take-off, gusts of wind reached 40 to 50 miles per hour. The man used his small aircraft as a tool for keeping watch over his family's ranch. He was married with two adult sons.
Officials are continuing an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Even better would be Powered Parachutes which are supposedly safer than ultralights. Possibly cheaper since they're not fixed wing. Hmmm...