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[Texas:]DPS flies $7.4 million spy plane to the border
mySA.com ^ | January 10, 2014 | Kolten Parker

Posted on 01/14/2014 10:27:33 AM PST by SwinneySwitch

SAN ANTONIO — Texas Department of Public Safety pilots flew the fancy $7.4 million high-altitude spy plane — equipped with $1 million worth of surveillance cameras — from San Antonio to Fort Stockton Friday, according to a flight tracker.

The purchase of the Swiss-made aircraft by DPS was largely uncovered by media outlets in 2012. But as controversies surrounding drones and the National Security Agency continue to balloon, more focus is being shifted toward government-run spy programs.

The plane, purchased from Swiss company Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., is jam-packed with military-style features including high-resolution and thermal imaging surveillance cameras, a $300,000 downlink system allowing the crew to send real-time footage anywhere in the state. As a bonus, the package also came with four night-vision goggles worth about $60,000.

The plane, known as the Pilatus PC-12 NG Spectre, has one engine and has a pressurized cabin allowing it to fly up to 30,000 feet in the air.

According to the DPS, the plane is being used for surveillance and assisting operations along the US-Mexico border. The aircraft has also been used to support emergency situations, such as the central Texas flooding in 2013.

The spy plane took off from San Antonio at 10:25 a.m. and is scheduled to land in Fort Stockton an hour and 17 minutes later, with an altitude of 16,000 feet, according to the flight tracker.

A DPS spokesman confirmed the purpose of the flight Friday afternoon.

"The DPS Pilatus and a DPS helicopter assisted Border Patrol ground personnel in Terrell County today in locating two subjects suspected of firing a weapon during an incident with law enforcement earlier today. Border Patrol agents apprehended the two subjects," the spokesman said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Mexico; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: aliens; borderwars; spectre; texas
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To: SevenofNine

The Queen, much to my surprise, is a very talented dog-trainer, of all breeds... so we gotta cut her SOME slack.


21 posted on 01/14/2014 2:02:20 PM PST by txhurl
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To: onedoug

Used to fly with these guys in 67/68 if they were headed where I was going. Usually between Saigon, Vung Tau, Baria, and Ham Tan. Nice guys, didn’t know at the time why they were there.


22 posted on 01/14/2014 2:19:20 PM PST by North Coast Conservative (God created man, Sam Colt made them equal)
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To: North Coast Conservative

Got to fly one of their helos from Tam Ky to Hill 29 in I Corps. Civilian pilots recruited by the CIA, they did a lot of great work.


23 posted on 01/14/2014 2:36:58 PM PST by onedoug
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To: SwinneySwitch

Personally, I would rather that they got a couple of A-10’s. Instead of taking pictures, just make some “markers” on the ground.


24 posted on 01/14/2014 4:34:16 PM PST by Howie66 (Molon Labe, Traitors!)
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To: Bender2
The Governor has spent $.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge.

It was a .380, not a .45.

25 posted on 01/14/2014 5:16:51 PM PST by PAR35
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To: PAR35; SevenofNine
Re: It was a .380, not a .45.

Gadzooks! You... are right!

Well, I must confess I am such as .45 fan... I just cannot see carrying anything else--

Seven, as to Jerry Brown's hound, it is not the dog's fault... their owner is a jucking ferk--

26 posted on 01/14/2014 5:43:10 PM PST by Bender2 ("I've got a twisted sense of humor, and everything amuses me." RAH Beyond this Horizon)
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To: Howie66

Like.


27 posted on 01/15/2014 12:46:30 PM PST by SwinneySwitch (No mas pantalones.)
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To: SwinneySwitch

Some people just love to take the long route around the barn.

I prefer to turn it into a crater.


28 posted on 01/15/2014 2:05:45 PM PST by Howie66 (Molon Labe, Traitors!)
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