This man is obviously an innovator and should be punished as such! 50 penalty units!

Given that it is "manned" is it still in fact a "drone"?

Would it now be classified rotorcraft, multi engine etc etc?

The tether looks at least 10m long. Doubt a helmet will prevent zero injuries when a 30kg mass hits you at 10m/s.

I couldn't find any info on the duration of the flight, was it up there in the same league as being fired from a cannon?

BTW, it's been done before many times by many others in many different ways and all had the same common problem - the battery duration in flight mode is just not practical.

You can get it tinkering,
You can even get it hovering,
Matter of fact I've got it now.

These legends should be awarded the Bronwyn Bishop Transport Innovation Award

.....hahahah I like that, she was just corrupt, not stupid like these fools!:-)

Folks,
Now we know it is real, I must say it is a pretty impressive device to (according to today's SMH), lift 110 kg with 15 minutes endurance.
What the guys need to do, to make it all "legal", is get it certified and registered in the Experimental Amateur Built Cat., talk to RA Oz, chaps.
Tootle pip!!

Geez that's a bit harsh, I see ingenuity, intelligence, perseverance, wit and mateship.

Whilst the danger level is no doubt somewhat above that of indoor butterfly identification it is probably on par or less than that of some other pretty conventional pursuits such as scuba diving, snow skiing, wake boarding, dirt bike racing, etc..

I know the city folk live for it, but playing with ones telephone just doesn't cut it for many of us country folk.

Love it...have been designing something similar, but to sit in, not to hang from.
Obi.. CAsA and the Gibbo can probably list the "risk assessment" hazards and regs pertaining to the requirements for indoor butterfly id. after all it is an aircraft / a bio-flying machine.
Hard hat, safety goggles, face mask ...and of course the approvals to do so. After you've written your 'exposition' /manual.and outlaidmany 1000s of dollars.

Honestly nothing that innovative about what they've done, haven't pushed any boundaries that haven't already been pushed.

For all those saying CASA/ATSB shouldn't waste their time they absolutely should, because for every idiot like this that does it in the middle of no where and doesn't risk other there will be a bunch of others emboldened to try it themselves infront of their mates where they could indeed hurt someone else.

I'm not saying this sort of thing shouldn't be done, but it should be done the right way.

Couldn't agree more but hey we are probably in the minority here as being stupid & plastering it all over social media seems to be an Australian thingy!:-)
Personally I hope CASA throw the book at them as they give the drone industry a bad name/tag!!

You think??

I dare say that the fact this took them 2 years of trials and testing to get to the stage they did likely indicates they started from scratch with little functioning knowledge of the problems and solutions to those problems that would have to be overcome.

To undertake any complex project that you are unfamiliar takes a degree of personal inventiveness and as Peter Gibson stated in the media... well that's a first for Australia.

Those that belittle or mock these guys probably have never scratch built anything of significance.

Don't get me wrong here I believe CASA are quite right to have a word with these guys and point out a few things, that is there job after all, I hope they leave it that though. If we were to impose the view that only those with the way with all and time to undertake a similar bold project in full compliance with the myriad of red tape and regulations then we would kill the spirit of inventiveness and likely in time end up a country of people that can't build much at all of any significance. If you doubt this then have a look around we've arrived there.

Wunnerful wunnerful!! Another " Prince of Process" --- the wonderful bureaucratic mind that sees "the process" as the object of the exercise, any potential outcome, if any, is a purely secondary issue, as long as you do things "THE RIGHT WAY".

From Machtuk: "Personally I hope CASA throw the book at them as they give the drone industry a bad name/tag!! ----- won't you be disappointed if they haven't done much "illegal" , and there is no "book" to be thrown.

Some of you blokes should get a life ---- nothing they were doing was endangering anybody but themselves ---- and CASA policy is quite clear, stemming from a S.10 directive in 1997, in the case of sports aviation, amateur built etc, where all participation is voluntary, CASA's interest is " the safety of other airspace users and those under the flightpath of the aircraft.'

Tootle pip!!

Gupta is onto it.

People need to be reminded Mr P Gibson is a very long ter CAsA trough dweller now labelled The Corporate Spokesman.
One would think that in an Agency such as CAsA the ceo and Board would expect truth of fact and integrity and accuracy of output.
Alas Mr Gibson has proved time and again the CAsA mantra ..Any old Bullsh*t and fairy stories will do..
With politicians, bureaurats, PR and advertising ,we now most surely live in the Age of Spin and Bullsh*t.

For your second PPRuNe post, bigdoggottaeat, perhaps more info?