Tucson police chase mystery drone across the city at more than 100 mph

A February police report indicates that Tucson police chased a mystery drone across the city at more than 100 miles per hour. The FBI is now looking for the pilot.

[@pablopanda6922]

Plot twist: Air Force called the police on themselves to test how evasive the new drone is.

[@cody481]

Ok that's funny.

[@BobbyJetty1502]

Close, but almost. I live in Point Loma, San Diego Ca. Google map my neighborhood and you’ll see just how close we are to Naval Base North Island. Wonderful things are always flying or utilizing the ocean around us. 🇺🇸

[@skyartrc8286]

Sounds about right

[@weisserth]

possible, but not likely

[@thomasohanlon1060]

Dam someone forgot to lock the hanger after they were done.

[@plo5fish576]

amazon figuring out how to bring that helicopter pilot a package

[@thenoneckpeoplerepresentat8074]

High value package, Amazon delivery needed a signature.

[@cattigereyes1]

Chasing something they could not see even in infrared? Sounds like a goose chase to me!

[@brenthiggins8995]

especially if it had a hot propane engine

[@rexrocker1268]

Lol but geese can’t fly 100 mph, and I don’t think they fly at 14,000 feet either lol. Probably some sick military drone that we don’t know about yet. If the story is even true that is.

[@soundmindtv2911]

Manbearpig. It’s real! I’m totally cereal! 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@KentonJoseph]

@@rexrocker1268 "If the story is even true that is." That makes it a Goose Chase.

[@mkatzlord26354]

It obviously was aliens. 😂

[@clayton9136]

This is literally incredible. Whoever made this drone is an absolute badass.

[@StreetMachine18]

offer that person a darpa contract!!!!

[@tradingarsenal8578]

Thanks for your comment! Wait until you see what I have in store for next run!

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

I see what you did there. Nice, lol. 💪😎🤟

[@quistador7]

I HIGHLY DOUBT this was a drone. Most likely a wing. You can buy a wing on ebay that can go 100 MPH EASY for $100 and it can fly for an hour at those speeds. It takes very little skill to build and fly

[@quistador7]

@@StreetMachine18 my $100 wing can fly for an hour, ,can go 100 mph+, and has infinite range if using cell towers and GPS. It's not rocket science, any idiot with youtube and the skills to solder and draw a flight path can do this. I'm being dead serious it's stupid easy

[@markc1263]

"They could never see it but they chased it all over the City"

[@Barabbas7798]

Lol Maybe a drug test is in order

[@jamminwrenches860]

I have not seen a helicopter with radar so how were they "tracking" something they couldnt see?

[@philflores4939]

jajaajajjaajaj TRue !!!

[@historyhunter5215]

Don't forget it went over the mountain...

[@sonnydayz2118]

🤣

[@cplcabs]

Wait, they said they couldn’t see it, even without night vision, yet they were chasing it….so they could see it.

[@easygoing2479]

That's what I was wondering too... at 0:53 they did say that it had a "green light" on its belly, but could see nothing else. I guess it was just the green light they saw, and chased after what it was attached to.

[@Stick3x]

Exactly.

[@ErrorAcquired]

Misinformation, they are trying to pin this on drone operations. Law enforcement hates all civilian drones and will paint them in the worst light

[@stephenpowstinger733]

Right, the reporter’s questions were not deep enough. His logic flawed.

[@RoughAndWretchedRAW]

@@ErrorAcquired Not just Police but Government. In Canada you can't fly a drone over any public lands, Near anyone or within a kilometer of ANY man made construction of any kind. Which means you can be charged for flying within a kilometer of a single fence post in the middle of no where if someone complains or even if they just say a complaint was made through a tip line. Government also allow people to post their land as no drones so you can't fly over it. You can very literally own a quarter section of land and they can charge you for going to the geographical center of that property taking off Hovering and landing if any neighbor complains as a kilometer is a bit over the 1/2 mile. The only way to be entirely safe from Government laws on where you can legally fly laws you must own 4 sections of land in a square together where you can fly below 300ft in line of sight circles. And even with all of that and required licenses and registration. If a plane or Helicopter break the law and fly into your allowed air space hitting you. Well, that's your fault also. 100% liability is on you. We used to be a free country. No more! And the US is right on our heels into authoritarian rule.

[@LL.Johnson]

... So they chased a green light until it went over a 14,000 ft mountain? I don't think it was a propeller-driven drone.

[@quistador7]

it was most definitely a propeller driven wing. ( like the shape of the B-2 ) My single motor wing can fly over an hour and can cruise at 80MPH. If you program a flight path using GPS the only limit is battery life.

[@quistador7]

@@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316 It's called loiter you can indeed program it. Don't talk about things you don't know I've been flying UAV's for years

[@David-bc4rh]

@@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316 Ion propulsion only achieves high speeds in the vacuum of space and it takes weeks to accelerate.

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

@ShaunDoesMusic they objects that the military called foo fighters in ww2.. They have been proven to be very large, they don't make any sound and turn on a dime

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

@ShaunDoesMusic how do they do it? I can tell you they are not using some unknown phenomena.. Its all electrostatic

[@burtpanzer]

The police chase was probably more of a threat to public safety than the pesky RC craft ever could be...

[@TheWatchmanNews]

Usually always is.

[@kishascape]

Alien probe

[@MistralisArracant]

Assuming it ever existed, which it didn't. We in the UK have just found out that our government has a Behavioural insight department more commonly known as the nudge team so it's guaranteed the USA has something similar in spades and this sort of untruth will be used to justify remote ID.

[@seeyal6361]

If they don’t know what it was doesn’t that make it a UFO, not a drone?

[@Grunchy005]

Unidentified ROV (remote operated vehicle).

[@Vanderkitten]

@@Grunchy005 what if it was… sentient? 👽

[@markburton5292]

@@Vanderkitten number 5 is alive

[@onebylandtwoifbysearunifby5475]

Spot on. These things have been seen for decades, green lights included. Before there were cellphones or laptop computers.

[@drink15]

@@markburton5292 Great movie Short Circuit. Now that's on my mind, i might watch it this weekend. Assuming you are quoting that movie.

[@AjninHaru]

They couldn’t see it? Even with FLIR?. How in the hell were they chasing it.

[@jafleming0409]

They said it had a green light on it's ventral side. You can see a light at a distance and not see the source.

[@MerkleAkrunphleuphle]

cause they're imbeciles

[@KentonJoseph]

@@MerkleAkrunphleuphle No, just not trained to observe and report.

[@productivehustle6163]

Good question mr puttin....man if you aint got the answers seems you got tje questions lol

[@BangChief_AllIsOne]

Damn flying Snipes. Hard enough to Snipe Hunt on the ground. Salute

[@grondhero]

"Can you see this thing?" "Not me, can you?" "No, I can't see it either." "Well, it's not on infrared; keep chasing it."

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

More like. Cop#1 "hey you want to test this helicopter to its limits" Cop#2 "I mean yeah, but boss would be on us about it and wasting the super expensive fuel for no reason..." Cop#3"ive got an idea, but we all gotta agree on it okay? Let's say a drone almost crashed into us, and we chased it trying to stop them but it was insanely fast and maneuverable... but we gotta say it was stealth because our cameras won't have evidence" Cop#1 "man you're a genius, let's do it buckle up"

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

Oh man that comment was genius, I gotta copy and paste it some other places so other people see it lol

[@ridetillidie8090]

But, but...it was probably a propane-powered drone! :D

[@kennyhumphrey3753]

@@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316 My first thought was the CIA or NSA paid the cops some moonlighting money and had them sign a NDA with criminal penalties so they could create propaganda to make the Chinese and Russians think the US military has some new super drone technology. But when I saw your post I then realized the whole thing was much simpler than I thought. Either way, there was no drone.

[@neomonk5668]

Sounds like a field test against civilian police air capabilities.

[@Wayzor_]

It sounds like you need to put your Tin Foil hat on tighter.

[@fadlya.rahman4113]

@@Wayzor_ You right. No government agency will do this kind of thing. The highly sophisticated drone belong to Dr. Evil organization.

[@GoingFar77]

@@Wayzor_ Imagine living through the last 18 months of complete governmental lies and manipulation, where the tinfoil hat wears were finally vindicated after all these years of being called lunatics, and then attempting to use that term in a derogatory manner. That's you.

[@HellHoundsInc]

@@fadlya.rahman4113 you'd be surprised what smugglers, criminals, and cartels can get their hands on.

[@TheArmchairrocker]

Ft Huachuca is just down the road.

[@robertkeddie]

My tip for the FBI? If you're investigating something because it could damage a helicopter, maybe best not to send up a helicopter to chase it. 😒

[@totalrobot]

These are the same men who opened the Capitol gates on Jan.6th. Don't expect any critical thought from them

[@HumbelPie]

@@totalrobot wtc too?

[@dananorth895]

Good point. Obviously wasn't a hostile. May only be a matter of time before we see that, as in tail or main rotor sabatoge. Or god forbid jet engine.

[@raysouls3231]

lmaooo so good

[@raysouls3231]

@@dananorth895 this is the fearmongering they want you to worry about, GOD FORBID " put situation that hasnt happened yet but you think up of in your mind" AH yes lets find reasons to oppress people we havent thought of yet.

[@totalrobot]

What you saw was the planet venus, mixed with a temperature inversion, divided by swamp gas, with a weather balloon addendum.

[@swayjaayy5495]

Lmao....exactly

[@meestameestaaaaaa]

Ok. So a drone battery probably can't last that long. Especially at that speed.

[@elonmusk8603]

You forgot to factor in the wind speed

[@rogerrabbit80]

@@meestameestaaaaaa Depends. A lot of people use the term "drone" to mean a quad-copter, like the one the reporter showed, and only that. There can also be fixed-wing drones, which can be faster and have greater endurance that the copter type drones. If that is what they were chasing, then the greater range and high-altitude performance become a lot more reasonable. Most helicopter operations are at altitudes of 10,000 feet or less, so helicopters don't usually carry oxygen equipment. This drone is reported as flying over a 14,000 foot high mountain, which is the height at which the FAA requires pilots to use supplemental oxygen. Oxygen is also required if flying above 12,500 feet for 30 minutes or more.

[@RMBII91]

Your scientists have yet to discover how neural networks create self-consciousness, let alone how the human brain processes two-dimensional retinal images into the three-dimensional phenomenon known as perception. Yet you somehow brazenly declare seeing is believing? Mister Crikenson, your scientific illiteracy makes me shudder, and I wouldn't flaunt your ignorance by telling anyone that you saw anything last night other than the planet Venus, because if you do, you're a dead man.

[@augere9620]

So someone in the military was having a blast on the governments expense 😂

[@Shinzon23]

I applaud whoever put together this custom drone and I really wish I could order a similar drone from them.

[@BeyondOurSolarSystem]

Whoever did that has a military background

[@dr_jaymz]

I reckon they were chasing a bug on the window. That's why no matter how they manoeuvre it stayed with them.

[@LAT-qk3vj]

😂

[@Grzz51]

Here in the South we call them "lightnin bugs"............

[@johncaffarel2629]

Best explanation I’ve heard yet!

[@radicalrick9587]

Like they said it was doing circles around them, I figure that's the part where the helicopter was spinning around making it look like the drone(bug) was doing circles around them.

[@BangChief_AllIsOne]

Sounds about right. Salute

[@TerminusHostilia]

If that's the actual flight pattern...I'd say some sort of test turned into a troll fest.

[@AnthonyGoodley]

And that helicopter supposedly flew that corkscrew flight path at over 100 MPH. Right. Sure it did all them nonstop circles at 100 MPH. Sounds legit to me.

[@dare21magine]

the flight pattern is exactly how i would avoid letting a police heli lock their gimbal camera system on me. You deff dont want nice HD pictures of your new shiny drone you spent 3 years on in secret being released to the public before you can lock all the patents down.

[@babybirdhome]

@@AnthonyGoodley Nobody said they maintained 100 MPH the whole time. You’re assuming and inferring things that are not based on the available data. That’s on you.

[@SteveKasian]

@@babybirdhome Yeah, but you bought into an article that's definitely at least 90% fake. The only part that's arguably real is the "alleged" fact that an LE chopper chased it. Everything else is complete BS. And I mean COMPLETE. This "advanced tech" has been around for over a decade; Pretty much for as long as GoPro cameras have been around. There is absolutely nothing about this alleged drone that falls under the category of "not commercially available," "hard," or "very expensive." It would even be a stretch to say that this tech is "not readily available to everyone." In fact, anyone with internet access, a debit or credit card, and about $1500 can buy not only the drone, but the entire setup (all batteries, cameras, transmitters, receivers, antennae, and even an auto-tracking antenna system that tracks the drone for you and automatically points the antenna at it!) That includes >100MPH capability and the ability to control the drone up to 100 miles away from the base station. This entire article is a lie.

[@AnthonyGoodley]

@@babybirdhome Yes you're right. My mistake.

[@frotobaggins7169]

seems that the drone wasn't the problem, the police chasing it were.

[@purplehz97]

Haha it's like distracting kittens with a laser pointer. This is how we can keep cops busy.

[@roverworks4886]

The FBI is looking for tips. Translation: The FBI wants us to do their job for them.

[@renereyes3311]

Hey cut the fbi some slack, They're busy investigating those elusive white supremist groups, and rounding up Trump supporters who were invited into the halls congress by the Capital police. They have a country to protect.

[@totalrobot]

@Above Reality Sim brainwashed denier

[@censoredspeech2325]

@Above Reality Sim 👈Sheep

[@renereyes3311]

@Above Reality Sim baa baa baa

[@TheFrenchPug]

They never caught the jetpack guy in L.A. but it seemed to atop.

[@beargillium2369]

Chasing a drone with a helicopter is the stupidest waste of resources I've ever heard of.

[@LarsLarsen77]

In a world where drones exist, chasing anything with a helicopter is the stupidest waste of resources I've ever heard of.

[@beargillium2369]

@@LarsLarsen77 like chasing a helicopter on a horse 🐎

[@lukegilliam3139]

It was probably a fixed wing if it had that much endurance.

[@bypassmobilehelp9571]

exactly, they shoulda shown footage of a predator drone not the quadcopter. This story isn't really interesting when you remember we have a military with classified advanced technology

[@ericbulbosa6199]

I saw the thing it looked like a 45 foot long white propane tank. It didnt have wings or any propellers.

[@gb4807]

Not a DJI FPV for sure that thing would lasted 9 minutes

[@madebycarrera7585]

🤣🤣🤣

[@digitalchaos1980]

Right?? 😂

[@thomvogan3397]

Don't you love these news reports that don't ask obvious questions such as, if they couldn't see it how could they chase it

[@ineverplay1]

lol exactly. Also didn't show up on radar. So it was there but couldn't see it with their eyes or on radar. I guess they were chasing the noise that they couldn't hear over the helicopter engine. Sad report.

[@mattmarzula]

@@ineverplay1 these comments are as ridiculous as the report. It's obvious that they were able to see the UAS. How else could they describe the green direction light. If you read just a little bit of the text you could see that the pilots had a visual in the UAS and we're able to follow it. The UAS kept flying around them to avoid their visual contact. They were unable to observe it using their night vision. Doesn't mean they couldn't see it. Doesn't mean that it wasn't tracked by radar.

[@nonamenolast4648]

They couldn't see the chassis just green light

[@fidjet]

😂😂💜💚🇺🇸🌎🌍🌏👽🥊💪🧠

[@dare21magine]

@@mattmarzula if it was tracked on radar, they would have shown its flight path, just like the helicopter. with composite materials and proper fabrication, i too can make things disappear from civilian radar

[@BitwiseMobile]

To paraphrase Obi Wan - That's no drone, it's a spaceship.

[@onebylandtwoifbysearunifby5475]

All they saw was a green light literally flying circles around their helicopter. Sounds like everything else is guessing through bias.

[@ronmcmartin4513]

Military or Cartel? The only 2 entities with that much disposable cash.

[@azapps]

It's not that expensive or difficult to build. long range radios for control and video are available for a few hundred bucks. Flying at 20k feet is possible if you have the power and props. At low altitude it can be extremely fast, can fly at hundreds of miles per hour. Check out the racing drones on YT.

[@lordbeebus9842]

It is. They have them all over the border if that’s a hint. They typically are around areas that have certain types laboratories.

[@rjmac3001]

General dynamics, do with that what you will

[@josephandrews2353]

That’s what I was thinking, Cartel. They use those to run things across the border. I don’t know how far Tucson is from the border but it sounds like it could travel that far-the drone.

[@jasoncopsey8638]

when they say that only the d.o.d. can afford these types of drones, a fully built drone that can do these speeds and last that long would have a non electrical engine system. and would cost around 75k. movie sets use them and so does border control. you think movie sets would use a drone to film that needed charging every 10 minutes? get real people. expensive yes, but not out of reach for some

[@m15cell]

If they didn’t see it the correct terminology is they were chasing a UFO: Unidentified Flying Object.

[@timhofstetter5654]

That would be the correct term even if they saw it but could not identify it.

[@team69racing11]

Over an hour & 100 mph!! That ain't no regular drone 😆

[@captainlight8050]

Thats the mexican drone

[@TheYoungAze]

@@captainlight8050 cartel drone

[@MrInstag8tor]

They can be easily modified to carry multiple batteries and programmed to fly higher and faster. I'm surprised there isn't more if this happening.

[@real100talk5]

@@MrInstag8tor if it's holding multiple batteries it isn't going 100 mph.

[@JoeGrow-pj3nr]

Real100Talk it’s probably a hybrid drone walkera QL1200

[@SG-js2qn]

If you can figure out the purpose, you can probably figure out the source. It's an expensive drone, which probably rules out anything casual.

[@depthcharge6215]

Or, they could by making it up to try to add more drone legislation.

[@Menelik.videos]

That was my thought as well.

[@dragonhank4217]

The beginning of "Skynet" becoming self aware...

[@ddrnerd4280]

Drunk officer takes joyride in helicopter, blames it on extravagant drone chase You say you couldn't see it? Yes But you were following it? Also yes

[@whosthis1230]

Green light..

[@ddrnerd4280]

A firefly loose in the cockpit

[@adonian]

@@ddrnerd4280 😂🤣best comment ever 👍

[@midgetwitha50cal13]

Lmao

[@hugh_jasso]

🤣🤣🤣

[@johnl.8616]

Govt doesn't like it when its done to them do they.

[@theobserver9131]

What are you talking about? Specifically.

[@johnl.8616]

@@theobserver9131 You need me to spell it out for you? Govt doesn't mind when they are the ones in controll and spying on you but when they are spied upon and they aren't in controll then they don't like it.

[@Neojhun]

@@theobserver9131 Dude the only thing close to this is Military Drones. Obviously the Military does not like when others have such powerful capabilities.

[@theobserver9131]

@@johnl.8616 You're just repeating your vague comment. I was asking for SPECIFIC DETAILS. I didn't think you knew what you were talking about. Carry on with your ignorance and paranoia.

[@theobserver9131]

@@johnl.8616 Don't even try to guess what I know. You have no idea.

[@GrandHuevotes]

We can’t even stop a plastic drone that’s going 100 mph… we’re screwed if an alien invasion comes.

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

That wasn't plastic... it traveled for an hour at over 100mph doing circles, then climbed to 14,000 feet and had no heat signature.. They had to have an engine built in, and heat shielding technology... Thats insane, that thing if it was human technology cost alot and had metal

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

@@baddriversofthenorcalarea500 cops shouldn't even own helicopters, I'm sure now they are trying to get F18s

[@3nertia]

@@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316 Most plastics are invisible to infrared and something that can move at 100mph at elevations of 10,000+ feet probably has no issues cooling what little heat electric motors would actually generate ...

[@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316]

@@3nertia something like that would cost tons of money and the motors and batteries would definitely be dumping heat... Plastic drones 1 hour is pushing it, then to go up on top of a mountain with your many thousands of dollars and to the other side.... they would end up losing thousands of dollars. And there is zero chance the drone originated behind that mountain if it is a cheap plastic drone, it would have taken 30 min to an hour to get to the boarder patrol to begin with

[@3nertia]

@@helpabrothawithasubisaiah5316 So, what you're telling me is that you don't understand tech :)

[@johnnyutah6565]

Corn Pop was flying it. And you can't catch Corn Pop, Corn Pop is a bad dude

[@lordot8665]

He really is a bad dude tho

[@Tony-rl2fr]

... with a bad-*ss high tech drone and mad piloting skills. Legend has it Joey knocked him upside the head with a chain which caused him to become the drone pilot savant that he is today 😆

[@Battlefresh]

Come on man! You're talking about, you know, the thing!

[@JetFire9]

Hairy legs

[@blondegirlsezthis8798]

trump pardoned six agents working on behalf of russia. They were already found guilty. who do you work for, Boris?

[@ALTN8NRG]

DJI says: "These are not the droids you're looking for"

[@mumblesbadly7708]

*drones

[@stevethecountrycook1227]

There are some clever people on the interweb!

[@kingofkings2934]

That was a deco to take the helicopter on a wild goose chase while they move a shipment across the border.

[@VIRGILSHELTONII]

It had a green light, but we could not see it... How does that work?

[@tiporari]

This is not that difficult to do. LiFe batteries, long range radios and a powerful brushless motor. Stop picturing a quad copter. A fixed wing craft with a clipped wing glider style airframe. Easy. Low thermals, low visible signature, almost zero radar return. 100mph isn't difficult. Flight time over an hour, no problem. 14000 feet, again, no problem. Returning to a mountain? High altitude = extended range and line of sight.

[@JViello]

Dude, stop talking like you know what you're talking about. LiFe also known as Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are nothing special and less energy dense than Lithium Ion and actually lower voltage per cell. (3.7v vs 4.2) LiPo's - Lithium Polymer, are the most energy dense, especially in high voltage guise Lithium HiVi (4.35v per cell) like you have in your cell phones. They would use LiFe if it was some magic battery. To use the energy this aircraft did for as long as it did isn't a "Meh" thing. Just stop.

[@totalrobot]

@@JViello such vitriol from a skinny armed pansy

[@icheattoohard7513]

@@JViello LiFe batteries were just an example he stated and they’d work with the layout he gave so he it was all correct and it seems he did know what he was saying

[@ChiliSkwertz]

I can smell the virginity in this thread.

[@publicenemynumerouno]

The US Army flight tested drones in Honduras and into Nicaragua almost forty years ago. High altitude, long range flights. The only problem they ran into was barometric pressure changes effected the stabilization system. Other than that they worked rather well. Yeah, 40 year old technology. I knew one of the people who flew them.

[@justinpeepee8454]

So DM AFB didnt react themselves, just TPD? A drone on/above federal property and no reaction, kinda smells blue on blue to me.

[@miweb3235]

Or mexican mafia upping their game and testing this out. Couldnt be seen. Not liking that too much.

[@jasonlacroix6083]

The APD wants a big budget allocation increase and they just got it.

[@mattmaloney5988]

These news people are of no help at all. Take a potentially interesting story and then say nothing but blather about it.

[@SteveKasian]

...and do nothing but lie about it.

[@brucegelman5582]

Were you expecting martian visitations?????

[@bossmack187]

Even the drone "expert" had nothing useful to say.

[@jamesscott9081]

Very interesting. I commute from Casa Grande to Chandler and one morning about 3 months ago I noticed a drone flying parallel to the freeway, about 100 yards away from me. It kept pace with me @ 75mph and i observed it for at least 6 miles until it veered diagonally toward the mountains and out of sight. This one had just one small red light.

[@metallicaandchimaira]

My drone tops out at 118mph lol. Spent a pretty penny building this thing tho. Even faster than that if im flying with the current of the wind.

[@Bamaedc]

Helicopter trying to catch drone: Drone: your not that guy pal!you're not that guy!

[@terrycline2294]

Was. The drone charged or will it be if caught? Or just recharged since its a drone

[@tyfawver7596]

Thats funny!

[@4leafChief]

More likely get its batteries confiscated for about a 12 month probationary period.

[@aussie1546]

Solar power

[@kullenberg]

I heard they have a new cell for it

[@terrycline2294]

@@kullenberg with more mildly amps and voltage. Good one

[@cjvilleneuve1566]

is it a tactic to push more restriction on drones, and rc in generals,, mostly rc parts>>>??

[@Von45Rose]

I pretty confident The mystery object won’t hit anything it doesn’t want to. Covert military guys just F’n around😂😂😂

[@jyaj007]

Their using a helicopter to chase a drone... That's one expensive chase

[@drink15]

Yeah. Like what would they do if they caught up to it?

[@victorcoleman949]

A wild goose chase all funded by your tax dollars.

[@lapdheadquarters762]

.

[@martinz.4852]

The FBI is looking for the pilot.......to give him a job!

[@theenzoferrari458]

More like a hug and 1000$ :]

[@theenzoferrari458]

@@tatumergo3931 that is special agents Mulder and Scully you. :]

[@kennethkaser8356]

Probably so, but I'm sure the FBI isn't paying what the Cartel is.

[@mariomarez2223]

Some Chinese military guy that brought his drone with him through Mexico testing it out with his thousands of soldier friends standing by laughing.

[@mattcero1]

Uhhhmmm, law enforcement needs to observe and report only. The F.A.A. is the only party who can enforce airspace "stuff". If you're flying a drone somewhere legally in public and the cops come by and try to take your drone, tell them about this then tell the to pack sand.

[@thequickbrownfox7289]

Cartels upping their game.

[@chas7surf]

that was my very first thought

[@dr.projectx5142]

Express delivery gone to the wrong sector retreat, pilot goes quickly officer and feds in confusion LOL.

[@acinfla9615]

They have the resources and the need. Never underestimate the criminal class.

[@ThailandAmazing]

I’m surprised the cartels don’t make a quick human lift with this dsigned

[@GRosa250]

Yes exactly and yet another reason why wasting vast resources to build a wall on the border was a waste. I’m all for some type of physical barrier where needed but technology and manpower are equally important.

[@roncolem4558]

And everyone thought Mulder and Scully were crazy! Lol! I bet the Smoking Man knows.

[@rongeremy5370]

Hey get the lone gunmen on to it,,!!!

[@roncolem4558]

@@rongeremy5370 Probably Alex Krycek doing his typical BS again. Lol!

[@wayneblack948]

The distance between Davis Mountain air force base and Mt lemon is 39.3 miles. The elevation of Mt Lemon is 8000 ft so it went almost twice as high as the mountain

[@lamarw7757]

Straight line is less than 20 miles. Mt. Lemmon is 9'171 feet high

[@fatassassin2493]

My guess is a long range fpv wing, still considered a drone, the news never stated if it was a quadcopter

[@keirmcmichael229]

That was exactly my guess.100mph is child's play for a seasoned RC pilot. I routinely do half hour flights at around 60-75% throttle using relatively low capacity batteries. Double the battery size and you could play tag with a helicopter and them on que no problem. Not mention all the equipment needed it can be built or bought for under 100$

[@fatassassin2493]

@@keirmcmichael229 yeah it really goes to show how much news stations dramatize stuff or just show their lack of research

[@TheFrenchPug]

I commented below that they still haven't caught the jetpack guy here in L.A. yet and turn on the 11 o'clock news. They say they spotted him today again but no go on catching him again. What a coincidence!

[@Timinator62]

So they couldn't even see it with IR Vision?...how can that be a Drone then? My Drones Motors, Batteries and the Flight Control Board all heat up so much you can barely touch them, they certainly would show up on IR.

[@ianarmstrong1636]

Good point

[@harryazzole7814]

With all the other capabilities of the drone it could safely be assumed it has an IR coating that's capable of hiding or masking its signature.

[@docwatson1134]

Thermal shielding with aerogel could hide the heat signature. But hiding a propane generator? That muffler will be HOT. Fuel cell burning hydrogen maybe, obviously the owner of this aircraft has near unlimited budget. Cartel sounds likely, who else could take advantage of the real time intelligence this device provides? Whoever it was, boss is mad that the pilot let himself get spotted by a screw up like that.

[@punker4Real]

Nuclear powered drone it's not too hard to isolate heat signatures using Aero gel using liquid nitrogen cooling.... wiht precise cooling control you can make it invisible at ambient temperature making it invisible to IR or use glass skin glass is invisible to IR

[@ianarmstrong1636]

A drone with rubber bands to power the propellers would not show up on IR...on second thoughts probably not a good idea

[@ellisford5038]

I would have been funny if the pattern flown by the helicopter spelled "you will never catch me".

[@the_traveller6994]

Extremely low heat signature rules out a combustion engine hybrid.

[@lurkingarachnid7475]

So military grade drone, not too many of those for sale on the open market

[@DevilDogDen1775]

I know EXACTLY what type of drone that was.... The kind that the cops couldn't catch !!!!... 😆

[@suzyqualcast6269]

That they want, for themselves, like, for free. Remember what happened to Teslas post sctipt details.......

[@AmericanTeacher-USA]

Too funny.....!

[@essdee2397]

Just like people walking along the street taking photos, these cops will handle the pilot as per standard operational procedures…. intimidate, harass, attack and arrest.

[@-Saigo-]

Wow, that's incredible tech.

[@chrissmith9151]

It was probably some 10 year old playing with a custom drone he built in his parents garage. He was just scouting back yards for girls sunning themselves in bikinis.

[@truegret7778]

@Chris Smith - I love your comment!

[@suzyqualcast6269]

P a p p y s

[@hairlessmonkeymedia7286]

LOL!!! Thats about RIGHT!!

[@SlipperyBannana]

Lol what is this a reference to? Drone misinformation is so rampant I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a serious comment haha

[@chas7surf]

10 yo? really? 10 yo boys are that interested in girls and build drones? your comment would most likely apply to an adolescent or above, but not a 10yo.

[@paulchristopherlittle]

if you know drones and think about what it would take to fly that fast for that long and that far and that high you know its probably a space ship not a drone lol.

[@hansonprofile]

Or DOD

[@johnbarber7952]

@@hansonprofile 🎯

[@MentaIPatient]

Call it whatever you want , It's still man made and flown... Like ^ said, DOD sounds right..

[@DeadFront1319]

Or not electric.

[@ErrorAcquired]

I dont support tax dollars to chase drones during this pandemic and increased crime

[@CerebralAilment]

We had a drone in my state follow a lady for 3 hours and finally she called the cops and the cops confirmed it was a drone but were unable to track it down. I wonder what kinda batteries these things are running.

[@eagleviewhd]

Here is a tip:clean the bugs off the windscreen of the helicopter!

[@zerodarkthirty8862]

hollographic ? project blue beam ?

[@kaliss7192]

What's really peculiar is it's signal range. The controller had to be nearby.

[@benanders4412]

Not really, you can use the cellphone towers if you make it digital. You can fly where you want as long you have a cellphone connection. And you can program it to fly the way you want on autopilot if connection is broken. Cheaper than satellite connection. Not that hard to make for somebody with some tech skills. A average tech nerd can pull it off. You can order all the parts on the internet. Just need someone with some programming skills to make the software. But it should not be that difficult.

[@ericbulbosa6199]

They could also use Air Band, Hf or shortwave. If I had to guess, that drone has a letter beacon on it in case it runs out of battery or has an accident ect.

[@wzpu3283]

Prolly a snoozleguster was used to bolsterate the signal proposition into a waveguided trunnel.

[@lchjr]

Occam’s razor; that was a joyride.

[@greengoat5654]

Yeah a joy ride that was just doing circles around the city for fun

[@jussayinmipeece1069]

so if they couldn't see it, didn't know where it was how where they chasing it and what exactly were they chasing?

[@tonetec]

I witnessed it this evening at about 7 pm or so. I reported it to the Tucson police department, the national ufo reporting center and the University of Arizona observation department. It's a continuous blueish green light that blinks steady on and off and this is not a civilian drone. It did blink red once before taking off. It hovered stationary for 20 minutes over south east Tucson. It was at altitude of about 500 to 1,500 feet off the ground. It hung below the cloud ceiling. It looks like a star when you first see it. After 20 minutes it took off heading north at about 100 mph+. It then took a sharp 45 degree turn and made a course change heading east, again at over 100 mph. My first impression was that this thing was not civilian and that it was some kind of secret surveillance drone. Felt eerie to me.

[@naorable]

Could have been a fixed wing drone. Funny how even the experts don't mention that.

[@Gianfranco_69]

Thats what i though,a delta wing can do that speed easy

[@Gianfranco_69]

@justan idiot i was using a crappy store bought spec deltawing , a pitched up one will do 80 easy for example

[@D_Hill]

@justan idiot it can do it at 14,000 ft ?

[@cwbeas]

exactly, was thinking model jet with POV setup

[@Gianfranco_69]

@justan idiot there was a DJi that did over 10k ft... autonomous modes dont need a link either,theres video of fixedwings doing 100km routes on auto ,the authorities tell you its 400ft Max but thats for aviation safety...🤫

[@miketols5420]

Doing things a commercial drone couldn't do. Couldn't get a visual but for a green light. Hit 14,000ft. So a UAP then.

[@benanders4412]

Plot twist! Just a kid playing with his laser pointer. Did the same with my dog. He was also going in circles trying to catch it.

[@wvXvxvXvw]

I guess big brother wants to be the only ones who spy on us. This guy was intruding on their monopoly and they don't like it.

[@brandonbarr2784]

Where is the video of it?

[@M4jeff]

Clearly this was a case of extraterrestrial teens out joy-ridding in dads space ship. Bop-Bleep had a case of beer and the keys to dads flying saucer. The rest is a matter of public record.

[@keirfarnum6811]

No. It was Booglorp; he’s much more of a troublemaker than Boo-Bleep.

[@imsupposedtobeasleeprightn9107]

Wait, more important than why they couldn't see it, why were they harrassing a drone to begin with?

[@nothingleft3473]

Because the government doesn't like when you have cooler toys than they have. Home of the free...

[@pozloadescobar]

They explained why. The drone allegedly had a near-miss with a CBP helicopter

[@technicallyinformativestem3032]

How do you know it wasn't a peeping drone 👀

[@coleschaefer6016]

If it was flying over 1,000 feet in the air, it was violating the FAA laws for operating a UAS. Additionally, they said it came close to colliding with a helicopter, which is also against FAA regulations (which is fairly obvious). And if that wasn't enough, operating a drone in a way that interferes with a heliport is against the law (although, I do not know if he was actually interfering with the heliport and not just a helicopter in flight). Whoever was flying the drone could possibly ruin the hobby for other drone pilots, because this case could be used as an example of why the US needs greater drone restrictions.

[@irbengimz5489]

@@coleschaefer6016 yeah but have you ever seen a drone fly for an hour at speeds of “100mph”? As far as I know that tech doesn’t quite exist.

[@Nexalian_Gamer]

Imagine in the future bank robbers launch like a 100 drones in the sky to distract the police helicopters while they rob a bank.

[@redactedrider7606]

They would have to do something equally as bad or worse. The police wont bother chasing a bunch of drones just flying around not doing anything if there is a bank heist down the road.

[@worlukk]

any follow up on this story? it would be cool to catch one of these drones and study it.

[@raymondgaxiola1654]

No victim, no crime. I bet they want to forcefully take what's his, and give him some fines to pay now.

[@rc3291]

Military ain't giving it to em

[@raymondgaxiola1654]

I know, right? Even though it's theirs.

[@connieturner572]

Someone knows something sure is a lot of things going on ⏰

[@JMcKey21]

So to summarize: helicopter pilots couldn't and never saw what they were chasing (and they could somehow estimate its relative speed versus theirs).. I'm really shocked they never found it. Sometimes the most logical answer is the correct one. Maybe a bird flew by, spent hours searching for something, and then have to justify the taxpayer money they wasted trying to find something that may have never existed in the first place. I haven't read the report so maybe this is just a really bad description by this news station of what happened.

[@mynotsoperfectlife-flimzys8947]

I told the cops in Saint George utah about a similar experience with a drone that was outside my place. He laughed and said that what I saw was not possible. I asked if it was theirs and he scoffed. I could see it because it was below the clouds and had a light under it. I stood staring, watching and so I waved at it. Next thing I see is it goes straight up above the clouds like someone had pulled it up by a string. It just kept hovering. My neighbor has what looks like it might be a drone beacon on her roof. We have been trying to get down but it has been moved from a reachable location to the top of the roof peak. The last people out here that had equipment to do that was the city of Saint George. So you tell me. WTF?

[@lurkingarachnid7475]

Alien 👽 drone

[@JollyBotox]

Better call Muldy & Scully

[@alanhelton]

You go drone operator!!! You go bro!

[@sharipuckett6923]

Good grief!! That's insane!!

[@frankyflowers]

they probably saw every kids drone in the neighborhood at different times and thought it was one.

[@ALTN8NRG]

lol...Area 52 located in Arizona. The pilot of that craft must have serious situational awareness to avoid and circle the police helicopter.

[@chas7surf]

..... like situational awareness attained with a PTZ cam on a gimbal !

[@bradbutcher3984]

Area 51 isn't in Arizona, it's in Nevada.

[@ZebraActual]

@@bradbutcher3984 he said Area 52.. not 51.. pay attention lol

[@ALTN8NRG]

@@bradbutcher3984 I was referring to a new facility: Area 52. Lol

[@charlieodom9107]

Intelligent flight modes can circle objects in motion without any pilot input! My drones can do it as long as long as they can go a little faster than the POI! I use it to film my kids on the tube or knee boarding at the lake all the time.

[@glennzlotowski8020]

It could be a self aware military drone, no pilot needed .

[@earthcoupled]

Yeah from Planet GOBBLEMYKNOB

[@reaperofinsanity3370]

That's not a thing really

[@adrianau4246]

He is probably using TBS CROSSFIRE & a signal booster. Easy to setup & got up to 40 miles of range …

[@robertmartian4644]

Worlds best drone advertisement ever!

[@davidhouston9522]

I am a security guard that goes around and checks on buildings and properties One night I looked in the back of the building and I seen a drone flying in a cage it was about as big as a car it was in Scottsdale Arizona

[@brainretardant]

How big was its cage?

[@davidhouston9522]

The cage was at least 10 yards

[@dustyluster1855]

I live in the country outside of tucson and seen that 3 times in the last year comes in flying out of nowhere Hoover's above then flys over the mnts... it is government...

[@graceamerican3558]

Or drug drone.

[@nerblebun]

@Dusty Lester: Hoover Dam is nowhere near Tucson Arizona; however, drones do have the capability to hover.

[@linzayj]

I’ve been dealing with this since 2016. I moved from Florida to Kentucky and they followed along the interstate the whole way!! These aren’t your typical drones.. Our government knows what’s going on. I believe it’s some sort of mass surveillance system .. I call them star drones. They look like a star, but act like a drone. Yes, they can see inside your homes. They pick up sound as well.. If you play music you’ll see them pulsate to the sounds.

[@dodcrazyd]

well, techincally, if i'm reading the law right, if ground level, in this case a mountain, is 14000ft, he's allowed to fly 14400 to get over it. If a building is 1000ft in the air, you are allowed to go 1400. If a tower is 800ft in the air, you can go an additional 400ft over it. That's how the law reads.

[@rdizzo1313]

“Drone” Is the new nomenclature for (Swamp Gas)... Nice try Gary....😂🤣😛

[@ezridr1234]

Ok I give up, it was me........ Had 5 modified batteries mounted on my DJI while capturing some 4k video until some giant drone showed up behind me, the tail wind was pushing me over 90mph all over town in circles, I barely made it back to the home point. Didn't know it was cops, my bad.

[@TheYoungAze]

lmao

[@V0YAG3R]

🤡

[@ScottParisi]

Green light on the belly? Sounds like they're chasing a lightning bug that was crushed on the windshield.

[@originsdecoded3508]

If you notice, this ends up like most ufo's sighting chases. The ufo dissapearing either into the ocean, or behind some mountain regions.

[@onebylandtwoifbysearunifby5475]

"Drone"👌 These things have been seen for decades, green lights included. And Before there were cellphones or laptop computers.