The U.S. Government Accidentally Sent This Dude a Drone

Most people expect a little something from the government in early May, but instead of getting his tax refund, one Redditor found himself with a peculiar gift from Uncle Sam: a NOAA drone.

After opening the very "utilitarian" military packaging that Steve Jobs would have puked at (terrible user experience), Redditor Seventy_Seven was confronted with a pair of wings, what appeared to be a controller, and a note declaring the item "USA Federal Property" and indicating a return address to a "NOAA Aircraft Operations Center in Tampa."

Looking for answers, the Redditor went to the stork that brought this gift, the United Parcel Service, who were spectacularly vague. "They told me that it was one of the undelivered packages in their office, and asked if I've ever had an undelivered package," wrote the Redditor. "I said no, but he insisted that it was mine, and said that it was up to me if I want to keep it or not."

Instead of keeping the drone or piloting it home to the Tampa address, the lucky (?) Redditor said he would call the number and hopefully get the whole situation sorted out.


Ethan Wolff-Mann is Supercompressor's Gear editor. He is still waiting for his drone to arrive in the mail. Follow him on Twitter @ewolffmann.