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Guest Chris Anderson founded DIY Drones, a free online community for enthusiasts and builders of fully autonomous aerial drones that perform just like large UAV’s, but use open source software. Chris also co-founded a company called 3D Robotics which sells aerial vehicles, components, and accessories. Chris is the Editor in Chief of Wired Magazine, and he is also the author of the New York Times bestseller, “The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More.” Find Chris on Twitter at @DIYDrones.

We talk about converting R/C craft to autonomous unmanned vehicles with autopilots, sensors, and GPS navigation that rival military unmanned systems. Minus the armament, of course. With falling component costs and free open source software, these aircraft are not as expensive as you might think. This fosters a hobby UAV market that acts in a similar way to the early personal computer days when creativity and innovation ran rampant.

Past guest Martin Rottler subs for Rob Mark as co-host. Martin is a pilot and also lectures aviation subjects at The Ohio State University Center for Aviation Studies. Find him on Twitter at @MartinRottler.

The week’s aviation news:

• 4th FW holds historic change of command
• First female 4-star general heads AFMC
• China Is Biggest Emerging Threat To Boeing And Airbus, Says Albaugh
• China’s threat to Boeing, Airbus overblown?
• EPA told to come clean on feedlot flyovers
• EPA defends aerial surveillance on Farmers and Ranchers

David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Bell Boeing V22 Osprey.

In this week’s Australia Desk report:

Qantas profits take a dive and so does their share price, Etihad buys a stake in Virgin Australia and may be looking to increase it, Scoot commences services to Sydney, the fifth & final KC30A tanker is ready for RAAF service while a former RAAF B707 tanker returns to Australian skies with new engines and a new owner

Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124.

Mentioned this episode:

• Hobby King
• SparkFun Electronics

Listener links:

• The Radial Rocket
• Boeing 747-8 undergoes extreme testing
• Boeing 747-8F Performs Ultimate Rejected Take-off

Post photo by David M. Vanderhoof.

Opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.