I think our governments know more than they are telling us for whatever reason.  Like the UFO phenomenon they more than likely know a lot more than they are willing to share publicly.  Maybe some day they will tell us the full story of both phenomenon....maybe.  Meanwhile just jump up and down and rant and rave and write your congress person.

Noel

I would decide what is likely going on by reason. What is the most likely motive.

Suppose these drone swarms are a program of our own government. If it is a government program, it's a huge one, witness how many sightings.

Small petty cabals can do secret things for their own good out of some sort of lust or greed and keep it a secret. But a large subterfuge for a sinister purpose will be revealed quickly. Like the mafia. Everyone always knew it exists. knew that it was evil, it was too big to hide.

But a large subterfuge for what the conspirators think is a noble purpose can stay hidden. And whatever the purpose is for what is going on, it is certainly well hidden. If it's a government job, well for sure we know they aren't telling us what they know about drones swarms.

And the purpose being still hidden, I would conclude they are likely doing so in their own minds for our good and the good of humanity. Because if it was some sort of nefarious scheme, then the reason would have leaked already, because there is no honor among thieves and somebody for some selfish reason would have ratted already. Spilled the beans.

 

This is why I don't for instance believe the Kennedy assassination was a large plot. It was an evil plot for sure. It wasn't done out of altruism..

And therefore I conclude it was a small group. A large evil conspiracy cannot stay hidden, somebody out of all those bad people would have ratted out the truth for some selfish reason, long ago.

I therefore conclude it was a small evil group. Very likely one man.

Ya think maybe those drones could be controlled and directed by UFOs?

Noel

So far, I've seen a lot of hysteria and few facts.  That in itself is a recepie for problems.  There's already concerns from GA pilots, and my biggest fear is that someone starts shooting up in the sky.  

A lot of this is due to modern "journalism".  Our media outlets used to be the voice of reason, now they are the ones spreading fear.  

What I do know:

-There's very little legislation around these things as they are new.  It isn't a conspiracy, government is always slow on newer things.

-Limited budget.  My understanding is that only around $500,000 of the FBI budget is used for things around drones.

Combine a government that is always slow to move with very limited funding, and I think you can very easily end up with a situation like this.  

Our air defense network was designed to detect large bombers and large missiles coming in, not tiny drones already in the country.  It is entirely plausable that "the government" knows exactly what it is telling us - nothing.  

Another possibility - the authorities do know something, but sharing it might simply compromise the investigation.  Sometimes secrecy is necessary, not nefarious.  Maybe they do have a way to track things, but of course telling us (and the people responsible) would limit that effectiveness.  

Again, to me we need facts, not fear.

Edited December 16, 20241 yr by kerosene31

My first thoughts were of insurance companies flying them around photographing roofs so they can cancel
homeowner's insurance.  That's been happening frequently here on the west coast.  Now I'm thinking it may
be a large group of drone owner's club members just wanting to cause havoc!

It may be Elon Musk testing another new complex marvel. A new computer console gaming system! Lightsaber Asteroids. It has to be played at night to see the lightsabers beams hit the moving targets.

Testing Delivery Drones is also a possibility, or yes a form of "Public Photography", whatever it is their is research money behind it, and obviously this is in a testing phase as it is not being made public yet, and expanding to more states at this point

I'm not implying anything directly, but Laminar Research has been strangely silent about this affair. 

I like the drone club possibility, but the most irritating side of this is mostly what some politicians have said. Of course I won't name names, but their ignorance of airspace laws, suggestions to shoot them down, once again, shows it's far better to keep one's mouth shut and 'appear' word not allowed, than open it and remove all doubt. How did we elect so many doofuses? 😉 I'm getting a chuckle over the hype of it all...

That said, I can't wait to see what comes of it and I expect it will prove, AGAIN, as nothing much to get in a twist over.

Stay calm and carry on.       

Ladies and gentlemen, it is nothing special that you all see. The situation is soon to be brought under purrrfect control.

24 minutes ago, Chocorua said:

How did we elect so many doofuses?

They're the only ones running for office?

Noel

I don't know who is flying all these drones around, but the fact is that they need to be monitored by someone, probably the govt.

They are flying around in Class G airspace, which isn't controlled unless near certain facilities, military bases, etc., but it is a classification of airspace, so the govt. needs to know what's flying around in it.

When these things first became available to the public, I though "oh cool", and even considered getting one myself.  However, it looks like there are so many of them now that that they pose a risk no only to safety, but also to privacy, as someone could fly one of these with a camera and surveil your property.

As much as I dislike the govt. in general, there is a role for it to play in regulating these things.

Dave

It is mind-boggling when people call this hysteria, limit funding to investigate, or say that the defense network cannot detect those large drones.

Two nights ago, while arriving at JFK from DXB, on top of the requirements, we had one hour of extra fuel in case we had to hold or divert. Sure thing, on PARCH ARR, passing CCC, ATC instructed to slow down to minimum speed and expect possible radar vectoring or further delays due to those drones. We (the pilots) can't see them on TCAS, but ATC gets returns from them.

I wonder who in their right mind can say that there is no threat to people on the ground or airplanes. Should we remember that flight out of LGA that sucked a few gees and ended up in the Hudson? I don't even want to think about being on an approach in IMC conditions and one of those SUV-sized drones hitting an airplane and crashing over populated areas.

Oh yes, there's nothing to worry about. It's just modern journalism and hysteria. What we see with our own eyes and the implications of this are just modern journalism and conspiracy. 

8 hours ago, kerosene31 said:

There's already concerns from GA pilots, and my biggest fear is that someone starts shooting up in the sky.  

Sadly, that has already been happening... 

Using my imagination, the following is what I think might be a representative dialog with the local Sheriff's Deputy:

Quote

Mr. Jones, why were you shooting at these drones?

Oh, 'cause the gubmint ain't doing doodly-squat about them there menaces!

Mr. Jones, unfortunately the "drone" you shot at and destroyed was actually a Lifeflight helicopter taking a newborn boy to the NICU!

Oops, my bad!

 

 

Edited December 17, 20241 yr by n4gix
corrected dialog