Hasn't a fixed wing trial been carried out? I heard rumour it had started from Benson with a low-winged
twin, but didn't follow it up to see what happened, or is it still going?
. . a cheap and cheerful aeroplane . . . Surely a light aircraft . . .
Much as I understand the sentiment, and I'm sure PNAS would be keen to pick up the first adjective, I don't think the CAA will be too keen on anything too cheap or basic = slow & limited capacity. There're going to insist on a twin, surely, which will benefit from a turn of speed, if it's to achieve any advantage in the wider airspace/operating area. Anything small will mean minimal crew/Police with attendant limitations on what can be achieved? Certainly, as SS notes, reactionary effectiveness will fall by the wayside, unless the task's within sensible range of a rotary base, of which there may be fewer, if I read the runes here correctly?