Not a pilot.
A few quick comments.

Seems like TECH for now.

Wire strike is liable to be a greater hazard than known objects. Especially
so across valleys etc. LIDAR has been/is used by some for wire detection.
People have been known to string wires across valleys without requisite
approval. Helicopters have been lost to wire strike.

Almost unrelated: Worst case long ago NZ lost about 25% of all its
helicopters in 1 year !!!!!!!!!!! - due to a frenzied peak in the wild deer
recovery industry with many cowboys, a certain amount of gunfire (few
losses) and a willingness to fly Robinson R22's and similar way way outside
their envelopes.

Ballistic parachutes are fitted to many small craft and have saved many
lives. Balloons would seem to have few advantages for difficulties provided.
(FWIW - parachute descent speed at sea level V ~~~~~~= sqrt(2.m.g/A) in mksA
units.  ie A = chute projected area in m^2. g ~= 9.8 m/s/s V = m/s

[Formula works equally in other units except I have factored out air density
as a constant][1.3 kg/m^3][Assumed close but not at flat plate equivalent so
Cd close to unity].

Speed increases by about sqrt (2^h/4500) for altitude h in metres.

All E&OE, out of my head, by all means someone correct my figures.


     Russell
-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist