« Reply #61 on: February 20, 2012, 01:08:35 AM »
Do you know how much it costs to fly a helicopter per hour? over almost $1000/hr if not over it. The cost to buy a new Police helicopter, ~$3,000,000-10,000,000 depending on the model. The price to buy a drone, ~$300,000-500,000. Cost per hour, $200-500. Which one would you get, especially in the tight financial budget we are in.
A drone that can do the same stuff as a typical manned helicopter will only cost more. The reason the drones are cheaper is because all they need to carry is a camera. If all you need is a camera you don't need a helicopter. Take some cheap light ports aircraft that will fly at 30kts and it will do the job. If you do want a helicopter than a drone will be useless as it can not hover and it can't carry people.
The $1000/hr to operate a helicopter would be very specific to the type of helicopter therefore that number would be wrong most of the time.
Logged
"Now, if I had to make the choice of one fighter aircraft above all the others...it would be, without any doubt, the world's greatest propeller driven flying machine - the magnificent and immortal Spitfire."
Lt. Col. William R. Dunn
flew Spitfires, Hurricanes, P-51s, P-47s, and F-4s
