Posted on 07/30/2015 9:05:41 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Using an unprecedented search technique, the California National Guard has launched a drone to help look for a missing San Francisco teacher after he was last seen almost two weeks ago while riding a motorcycle in the El Dorado National Forest.
The drone, formally called a “remotely piloted aircraft,” was set off into the air to look for 45-year-old Edward Cavanaugh on Wednesday, at the request of the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, the National Guard said in a statement.
This is the first time such a vehicle has been used by the National Guard to aid a search-and-rescue effort, the National Guard said. The Guard previously tried out the use of drones to help firefighters battle the Rim Fire near Yosemite in 2013.
The drone, technically an Air National Guard MQ-9 Reaper, left the March Air Reserve Base near Riverside, California on Wednesday morning. Equipped with infrared sensors, image-intensified cameras and laser illuminators, the cameras send back detailed aerial pictures that are instantly relayed to National Guard ground crews.
“This technology allows us to provide persistent coverage of the search area in support of our partner agencies," California's Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin said.
Cavanaugh, a Downtown Continuation High School teacher who teaches outdoor education, was last seen July 17 riding his blue Yamaha YZ250 motorcycle in the Rock Creek trail system near Georgetown. He had been out with a friend, but took off on his own that day. His sister, Debbie Cavanaugh Schultz, told Dateline NBC she was especially worried about her brother because he is a diabetic who needs a daily dose of insulin.
Cavanaugh is described as 5'11", weighing 160 lbs with a bald head and a mustache. Anyone who sees him or knows where he is should call the Georgetown Ranger Station at (530) 333-4312 or the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office at (530) 621-5655.
I hope they find him. You would think an “outdoor education” teacher would know better than to take off on his own, especially since he has a chronic health problem.
What's it going to do if it finds him? Fire a hellfire missile at him?
maybe they should stop giving these long, long summers off to teachers and keep them teaching instead of vacationing constantly..
Overconfidence sometimes creeps in if you habitually engage in activity, and are considered and expert in it.
My great-grandfather was a water rat who thought nothing of hopping into his boat in Hull and sailing to Boston for the day. In 1881, a squall came up, the boat sank, and he drowned.
I think on occasion the national guard helps search for missing hikers and such. Maybe they really do want to fire a missile at him :-)
google “two missing jupiter florida teens” to see what overconfidence with the arrogance and stupidity of youth can do.
I know. A family friend of ours went out fishing, with another man, in a small boat, about 10 years ago. They both drowned when a non-unexpected storm blew up. Some people are more prone to risk-taking, too.
well if he is a registered Democrat....
Not to mention the (little known and absolutely covered) fact that kalipuke’s forests are inundated with messycan drug cartels who discovered it’s easier to just grow the dope there.
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