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Let's be honest: For most of us, the working day would be much more bearable if it were not for the exhausting journey there. The morning commute to the office, the shop, or school is probably the least appealing part of the day.
So why not fly? And we do not mean standing at Gate 4 every day and sitting through the flight attendants' safety instructions – but simply taking off and arriving within a few minutes?
Indonesian Farmer Rises High Into The Air
A video from Indonesia is currently attracting attention on social media because one farmer appears to have had exactly this idea. In the video, a farmer floats above vast rice fields beneath a huge agricultural drone – looking as though farming has just received a rather spectacular futuristic upgrade.
The man is said to have travelled a distance of around 1.5 kilometers using the drone. According to reports, he was at times suspended up to 15 metres above the ground. Naturally, it did not take long for the first comments to appear online: While others are still discussing flying taxis, this farmer already seems to have arrived in the year 2070.
A Drone That Normally Carries Fertilizer Rather Than People
However, the aircraft is not a new personal air taxi for farmers. Large agricultural drones like this were originally developed for heavy-duty work in fields. Among other things, they can distribute seeds, spread fertilizer, spray pesticides, or transport agricultural materials.
Thanks to their powerful rotors and high carrying capacity, some models can move surprisingly heavy loads. It is therefore not entirely surprising that such a drone could theoretically lift an adult person as well.
That does not mean, however, that people should simply hang underneath one and fly to the nearest rice plantation.
No Ordinary Commute
As spectacular as the video may look, the flight was apparently not part of an Indonesian farmer's daily commute. Instead, the stunt is said to have been created as a demonstration or deliberately staged performance.
The impression that the man commutes across the fields with his drone every morning therefore belongs more to the world of social media than to everyday agricultural life. Although the video offers an impressive demonstration of what modern farming technology can achieve, the stunt should not be seen as a new form of transportation.
The Aircraft Was Not Built For People
Agricultural drones are neither designed as passenger aircraft nor approved for transporting people. They lack seats, seat belts, enclosed cabins and numerous safety systems required for conventional aircraft.
Flying across a field while suspended beneath a drone therefore remains a considerable risk. A technical malfunction, a suddenly depleted battery, strong winds or one wrong movement could have serious consequences.
The Internet Loves Flying Farmers
Nevertheless, the stunt was more than enough to produce a viral video. After all, the combination of traditional farming and futuristic technology looks almost like a scene from a science-fiction film: Green rice fields stretch out beneath the man, the rotors of a huge drone buzz above him, and he appears to be having the time of his life. And when someone heads to work beaming with joy, nothing can stand in their way.
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