>That is until your cheap drone hits a paraglider, or other light vehicle that is actually allowed to operate in this air space.
Why is the paraglider flying under the drone 50ft off the ground?
Because he was soaring on a hillside while you were riding your mountain bike down the trail.
I would love Mythbusters to throw the biggest drone you can get into a jet engine. Pretty sure nothing, but some good entertainment would happen.
No need. A Canada Goose[1] can take out an engine; a flock can take out an airliner.[2] There are many drones larger than the geese, so I would expect this to be a distinct possibility.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Airways_Flight_1549
> usually weighs 2.6–6.5 kg
Flock of drones is unrealistic too.
I'm fairly confident it would destroy the jet engine. The shrapnel from the drone is likely to blow the very tight tolerances between the compressor blades and the body of the jet engine, causing jams.
Yet somehow it survives ice.
Drones are not made of ice.
Ice happens to hit the engines though.
In most legislations I am aware of, RC flight requires an operator to be in control of the drone.