Mail cannon: Difference between revisions
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A '''mail cannon''' is a kind of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilgun coilgun] used by some [[Bep Postal System|Bep postal services]] to deliver high-priority mail over long distances, using compact glider aircraft loaded with mail. Mail cannons & their gliders have been relatively safe in operation for most of their history, and are primarily used by high-profile clientele like business conglomerates and bureaucrats. | A '''mail cannon''' is a kind of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilgun coilgun] used by some [[Bep Postal System|Bep postal services]] to deliver high-priority mail over long distances, using compact glider aircraft loaded with mail. Mail cannons & their gliders have been relatively safe in operation for most of their history, and are primarily used by high-profile clientele like business conglomerates and bureaucrats. | ||
The gliders shot out of mail cannons have traditionally been piloted by a trained human pilot. More recently, innovations have begun allowing the affordable creation of gliders using animal-based or autonomous piloting systems, cutting weight significantly. Accident rates have increased | The gliders shot out of mail cannons have traditionally been piloted by a trained human pilot. More recently, innovations have begun allowing the affordable creation of gliders using animal-based or autonomous piloting systems, cutting weight significantly. Accident rates have also increased significantly, likely due to the premature deployment of these technologies. Mail cannons are nonetheless still considered safe, as none of the lethal accidents to date have directly affected major [[urban agglomerations]] or individuals in seats of power. | ||
Revision as of 20:00, 25 February 2024
A mail cannon is a kind of coilgun used by some Bep postal services to deliver high-priority mail over long distances, using compact glider aircraft loaded with mail. Mail cannons & their gliders have been relatively safe in operation for most of their history, and are primarily used by high-profile clientele like business conglomerates and bureaucrats.
The gliders shot out of mail cannons have traditionally been piloted by a trained human pilot. More recently, innovations have begun allowing the affordable creation of gliders using animal-based or autonomous piloting systems, cutting weight significantly. Accident rates have also increased significantly, likely due to the premature deployment of these technologies. Mail cannons are nonetheless still considered safe, as none of the lethal accidents to date have directly affected major urban agglomerations or individuals in seats of power.