Pilotless Camera Planes Pitched to Texas County

Jan. 27 -- WEATHERFORD, Texas -- A fast-moving grass fire threatens homes and businesses. A child is missing in a heavily wooded area.

Parker County officials are taking a close look at buying an unmanned aircraft system that would allow them to see detailed pictures of situations like these.

Parker County commissioners and law enforcement officials recently saw a demonstration of the system, which is made by RP Flight Systems, based in Wimberley.

Commissioners voted to learn more about the systems, including what grants are available to help buy one.

The aircrafts, which look like model planes and have a wingspan of about 3 to 4 feet -- cost between $7,500 and $20,000, depending on the type of imaging cameras and software needed.

Fire Marshal Shawn Scott said the plane would have been helpful in getting a fast look at a fire that started after a crude oil tank exploded last month in Springtown, killing 14-year-old Zachary Menge.

Firefighters flew over the area in a news helicopter and spotted the burning tanks, Scott said, but that was an hour after the fire started.

"We knew where the tanks were, but we didn't know if the wellhead was also involved," he said. "We could have launched the plane much faster."

Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said the system would be ideal for finding a missing Alzheimer's patient or suspected drug activity.

"I can see a thousand uses for this," he said.

Gene Robinson, who owns RP Flight Systems, said he is not aware of other counties using the planes but said they are used frequently in Iraq.

"This is emerging technology in the civilian world," Robinson said.

Robinson said he has been working on the technology since 2001.

Recently, an unmanned plane was used in the attempted rescue of three mountain climbers on Mount Hood in Oregon, Robinson said.

The planes can hold three digital cameras that are controlled from the ground. The cameras can transmit live video and store high-resolution pictures that can be downloaded to a computer, Robinson said.

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