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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 0202.PDF
•UL/VV autonomous operations Launch & recovery hand-launched, auto-pilot com manded deep stall descent Company information: www.aerovironment.com www.baiaerosystems.com AEROVIRONMENT (USA) Pathfinder Plus The Pathfinder is a solar-powered remotely piloted flying-wing aircraft that has been designed for long- duration, high-altitude flights at airspeeds of only 13-22kt. Solar arrays covering most of the upper wing surface are used to provide power for the aircraft's electric motors. Pathfinder was developed for a classified govern ment programme in the 1980s. The aircraft became part of NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) programme in 1994. Four years later, the Pathfinder was modified into the longer-winged Pathfinder Plus configuration. The vehcile is powered by eight electric motors, two more than Pathfinder. Pathfinder Plus has been used to demonstrate the craft's ability to handle long-duration, high-altitude telecommunications relay services, harvest optimisa tion imaging and weather forecasting. Dimensions length 3.6m, wingspan 36.3m Performance endurance 14-15h, ceiling 80,201ft Weight GTOW 315kg, max payload 67.5kg Powerplant 8 brushless direct-current electric motors, 1.5kW each Payload various scientific instruments, including imagers Launch & recovery wheeled Company information www.aerovironment.com FQM-151A Pointer The Pointer is a low-cost, hand-launched production- ready UAV designed for reconnaissance, surveillance and remote monitoring. It has also been demonstrated in other applications, including air sampling for pollution monitoring, chemical weapons detection and unexploded ordnance detection. Pointer is electric powered and has low visual, acoustic and thermal signatures. The vehicle can be assembled, launched, flown and recovered by opera tors with minimal training and no previous experience using drones. An onboard camera relays live video images to the pilot and mission navigator, to a video recorder or other remote ground receivers. Pointer systems have been deployed with the US military around the world, including during the Gulf war. Dimensions length 1.8m, wingspan 2.7m Performance endurance 2h, ceiling 2,000ft Weight GTOW 3.6kg, max payload 0.91kg Powerplant electric motor powered by batteries Payload video/IR cameras, chemical agent detector, air particle sampler Guidance & control GPS, AutoNavigation Launch & recovery hand launch, AutoLand, vertical, deep stall landing Company information www.aerovironment.com AURORA FLIGHT SCIENCES (USA) Perseus B is a unique UAV designed for HALE mis sions, such as telecommunications monitoring and collecting atmospheric samples. It is available as a testbed for sensors, payloads, and subsystems. The aircraft is powered by a three-stage turbocharged Rotax piston engine and is capable of flights to 65,000ft, with an endurance of 7h at 60,000ft. With external fuel tanks and engine upgrades, the Perseus B is capable of carrying a 80kg payload at an altitude of 55,000ft for up to four hours. The aircraft can be disassembled to fit within a 6m trailer for transport. The third generation of the Perseus design, the Perseus proof-of-concept demonstrator and the Pers eus A, all part of NASAs ERAST project, preceded it. Dimensions length 7.6m, height 3.5m, wingspan 21.8m Performance endurance 8-24h, ceiling 20km Weight GTOW 1,100kg Powerplant Rotax 914 with three-stage turbocharger Payload various scientific devices and instruments Guidance & control GPS, C-band, Mode 3C transponder Launch & recovery wheeled Company information: www.aurora.aero The first of 198 BAE Systems Phoenix UAVs entered service with the British Army in 1998, but the major procurement has not been without technical prob lems. Upgrades, including a more powerful engine, are already planned. The Phoenix was procured to give the British Army a deep target spotting capability for artillery units. Dev elopment began in 1982 by GEC Marconi, but due to delays and technical issues, a production contract was not signed until 1996. The Phoenix saw its first combat deployment in 1999 over Kosovo, with mixed results. Dimensions length 3.8m, wingspan 5.5m Performance endurance 4h, ceiling 3,000m Weight GTOW 209kg, max payload 52kg Powerplant TTL WAE 342 19kW piston engine Payload stabilised thermal imager, TV, IR line scan, radar, laser designator, EW Guidance & control autonomous Launch & recovery truck-mounted hydraulic cata putt, parachute/airbag Company information www.baesystems.com BAl AEROSYSTEMS (USA) BQM-147A Dragon Drone The Dragon Drone is an upgrade to the BQM-147A Exdrone UAV, a delta flying-wing. Capable of pre programmed, autonomous flight, the Dragon Drone has a launch weight of 43kg and a 9kg payload capac ity. Payloads for Dragon Drone include cameras, an EW jammer and a tactical remote sensor system. A Dragon Drone system consists of 10 air vehicles, two GCSs and support equipment. Exdrone, for Expendable Drone, started out as a USMC EW asset, but was given a low-cost, expendable, reconnaissance capability. Exdrone and Dragon Drone are now being used for war games and military exercises. Aurora's Perseus B is destined for HALE missions www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SUPPLEMENT 28 JANUARY-3 FEBRUARY 2003 21
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