Author Archives: The Editor

Drones Are Cheaper than Weather Balloons

Norwegian scientists, currently on campaign in Finland, conduct their first autonomous landing with a model aircraft packed with weather sensors. This marks the next step in the process of automating meteorological data retrieval. Continue reading

USAF’s Predator Ends Era at Creech AFB

An MQ-1 Predator sits on the flight line Dec. 8, 2016, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. Creech, Air Force photo by SrA Christian Clausen

The iconic MQ-1B Predator, which ushered in the age of drone warfare in the mid-1990s, flew into the sunset on Friday. The US Air Force held an official retirement ceremony at Creech AFB, Nevada, the headquarters of Air Force remotely piloted aircraft operations, on Friday, marking the end of the Predator’s reign in the air and the shift to an MQ-9-dominated RPA fleet.  Continue reading