Attack of the drones! - Orlando

The Orange County Sheriff's Department unveiled two new unmanned aerial reconnaissance drones today, promising sweetly that the craft would not be used for spying on civilians.

ORLANDO, FL (Catholic Online) - Sheriff Demings told the media today, "This is not about intruding. We're not going into any homes."

Instead, he promised that the drones would be used for hostage situations and chemical spills, and for search and rescue operations.

The drones, although sophisticated, are nothing like larger military craft used to patrol over the deserts of Afghanistan. Instead, these are more like miniature helicopters with a three-foot wingspan. They can manage sustained flight for only short intervals of about fifteen minutes at a time.

However, their small size combines with their quiet operation, making them difficult to detect.

They also cost about $25,000 each, the price of a decent new car.

Across the U.S. law enforcement officials have applied to the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to operate drones over American cities and rural areas. And although most Americans remain skeptical about their future use, plans are proceeding apace to see them in service across the country.

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