Author Archives: The Editor

MQ-9 Supports Fire Fighting Efforts in Northern California

The California Air National Guard’s 163d Attack Wing operating out of March Air Reserve Base is using MQ-9 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), with full-motion video (optical and infra-red) and ground imaging Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capability, in support of CAL FIRE’s firefighting efforts in Northern California. SAR is able to see clearly though both clouds and smoke. Continue reading →

Aerovel’s Flexrotor Sets VTOL 32 Hour Endurance Mark

Long range and endurance are capabilities not often associated with VTOL aircraft. But Aerovel’s unmanned Flexrotor, a unique miniature tailsitter, is cut from a different cloth. Last week a Flexrotor named for the sea nymph Actaea lifted off into a grey and rainy morning with 7.5 kg of fuel onboard. It transitioned from hover to wing-borne flight, and soldiered on through a showery day, a blustery night, and then another day in the breezy and unsettled air behind a cold front. Continue reading →

PLIMP – a Plummet-Proof Plane-Blimp Hybrid UAS that Flies and Hovers

Egan Airships today presents PLIMP, a plummet-proof, plane-blimp hybrid UAS that can fly and hover while bringing advances in safety, visibility and mobility. PLIMP aircraft represent a brand new type of UAS that can manoeuvre and move quickly like fixed-wing aircraft, hover and vertically take off and land (VTOL) like a helicopter, and operate efficiently and safely like a blimp—all on a single platform. Continue reading →

Scaled Composites Completes First Flight of New Experimental Aircraft, Model 401

Scaled Composites has announced the rollout and first flight of its most recent project, experimental aircraft Model 401. Scaled worked with a proprietary customer to build two vehicles to demonstrate advanced, low-cost manufacturing techniques and to provide aircraft for research flight services to industry partners and the United States government. Continue reading →