Drone-Flamethrower Combo Helps Roast the Holiday Turkey, Clinton Teen Says

CLINTON, CT — As the Christmas carol goes, “Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe help to make the season bright.” Throw in a drone equipped with a flamethrower and you’ve got a very bright season indeed.

That appears to be the sentiment of Austin Haughwout, a Clinton teenager who is no stranger to the drone scene. Earlier this year, his drone-handgun combination caused a stir, prompting the FAA to investigate whether the invention violated any laws.

The drone-handgun combo did not violate any laws, according to WTNH.

Presumably just in time for the holiday season, Haughwout uploaded a video to YouTube on Dec. 7, titled “Roasting the Holiday Turkey.” Watch the video below.

Related

• Clinton Teen’s Arrest Has Nothing To Do With Flying Drone-Gun: Police
• FAA Investigates Teen’s Flying Drone Handgun for Violations
• Flying Drone-Gun Teen Inventor Featured on Inside Edition

What’s different about this video compared to the drone-handgun video is that Hobby King, a retail company that sells remote-controlled products, is a sponsor for the video. A title screen with Hobby King’s URL opens the video and its logo remains in the bottom right of the screen.

Haughwout links to the Hobby King site in the caption, telling people where they can buy the equipment he used. The motor in the video costs $229.90, according to its product page.

The video shows a turkey on a spit in the woods. At times, a house can be seen nearby. The drone-flamethrower shoots flames at the turkey, also causing a pile of brush underneath the spit to catch fire.

Clinton police are not releasing a statement at this time. Suitable water sources were reportedly nearby in the event of a fire emergency.

What People Are Saying

Comments on Haughwout’s YouTube video range from impressed to annoyed to afraid this may harm the drone scene. EFX Design expressed concern over potential damage to the public perception.

“Videos like this make everyone interested in the hobby look irresponsible, and damages how multirotors are viewed by the public,” EFX Design wrote. “If Hobby King did in fact endorse this video, I will never shop there again. This is was [sic] a bad idea.”

Not everyone felt the same way.

“And I will be shopping there from now on, neat video,” Chad Leach wrote.

What do you think about the drone-flamethrower combination? Join the conversation below.

Photos: Screenshots from YouTube video