Jeff Neumann
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Got a spare RQ-11B Raven spy drone lying around? If so, don't try to sell it on the internet!
A Philippine man, Henson Chua tried to do that last year when he offered up his Raven for $13,000 on eBay in violation of the Arms Export Control Act — a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison — and sold it to undercover federal agents. Chua was arrested when he traveled to Los Angeles last month.
And the worst part? He wasn't even selling a cool drone! You know, the kind that rains death from above on unsuspecting bad guys? The Raven is just a measly spy drone that looks like an oversized balsa wood glider. According to Aviation Online magazine:
The RQ-11 Raven was originally introduced as the FQM-151 in 1999, but in 2002 developed into its current form. The craft is launched by hand and powered by an electric motor. The plane can fly up to 6.2 miles at up to altitudes of 10,000 feet above ground level (AGL), and 15,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), at flying speeds of 28-60 mph with an effective operational radius of approximately 6.2 miles.
No Hellfire missiles, or any other fun add-ons. Just a suped-up remote control hobby plane. How lame.
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