The Enduring Fascination with Flamethrowers
There is something fascinating about flamethrowers. The DIY world insists on creating them over and over, although they don't reach the extreme of a real flamethrower, but rather limited to smaller systems without liquid fuel. On the other side, the company Throwflame decided to hold nothing back by designing a flamethrower in kit form, compatible with commercial drones. This is the Throwflame TF-19, with a range of 7.62 meters, a capacity of 3.78 liters, and 100 seconds of sustained flame.
From Musk's Not a Flamethrower to Avatar
I guess you still remember the whole situation: In early 2018, Elon Musk announced the “Not a Flamethrower”, a torch with the body of a toy gun and a sticker from The Boring Company that sold out in record time. The “flamethrower” was a real craze, and there was no shortage of politicians accusing Musk of trafficking weapons. Furthermore, if you want to build one yourself, you can already do it.
Another alternative is to be inspired by fiction. For example, the series Avatar. The firebending looks fabulous, and all you need is a pair of miniaturized flamethrowers. However, there are people out there who build flamethrowers professionally. Beyond films and series, flamethrowers have legal and useful applications. The company Throwflame offers some very powerful models, but recently they asked themselves: What if we install one of our flamethrowers on a commercial drone?
The Throwflame TF-19 Drone Flamethrower
The answer is the Throwflame TF-19 drone flamethrower, or rather, a flamethrower in kit form that can be added to compatible models like any other accessory. According to the company, the TF-19 holds up to 3.78 liters of fuel (one gallon), the range of the jet extends to 7.62 meters (25 feet), and its sustained shot lasts 100 seconds.
The rest of the specifications depend on the drone used. Throwflame recommends the DJI S1000 as a base, an octocopter that can cost more than $4,000 depending on its configuration. Nevertheless, company spokespersons confirmed that if someone wants the complete platform (drone + flamethrower), they just need to contact them. For now, the kit's price is $1,499, with free shipping within the US. So, what can we use it for? Well...
Burning nets and clothing on electrical wires, starting controlled fires, getting rid of wasp nests remotely... are isolated cases, but that doesn't make them any less valid. Throwflame reminds us that the TF-19 is legal (at least within the United States), however, it never hurts to check current regulations twice.
Official site: Click here
