El Pollo Loco is set to be the first quick-service restaurant to test drone delivery in the U.S. The “LA Mex” brand will test the capabilities in 10 Southern California locations. It partnered with drone operator Flytrex, which also helped 7-Eleven with its own drone test, to do the flying. Continue reading
Author Archives: The Editor
Thales and Scheibel Complete S-100 UAS Flight Trials
Thales UK and Schiebel have delivered the most comprehensive maritime sensor suite to be fitted to the CAMCOPTER S-100 during UK flight trials in August 2021. Operating off the North Wales coastline, the trials demonstrated how a navy warship can benefit from the intelligence gathered over an extended operating range, to prevail in a maritime or littoral operation. Continue reading
GA-ASI Flies MQ-9A in the Canadian Arctic
In a flight that originated from its Flight Test and Training Center (FTTC) near Grand Forks, N.D., General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. flew a company-owned MQ-9A “Big Wing” configured Unmanned Aircraft System north through Canadian airspace past the 78th parallel. Continue reading
ZALA’s First Hybrid UAV Performs 12-Hour Flight
The hybrid UAV ZALA 421-16E5G performed recently a flight which lasted more than 12 hours and covered a distance of more than 1,130 kilometers. Continue reading
Airspace Link Partners with the City of Las Vegas to Enable Safer Drone Operations
Airspace Link, Inc., a provider of drone mapping and solution software, announced it will be partnering with the City of Las Vegas to launch its new FLYSAFE program, powered by the AirHub platform. This program will enable drones operating in the city to fly safer today while paving the way for advanced commercial operations at scale. Continue reading
China’s First Professional UAS Test Site Enters Service
https://youtu.be/fSv30eiYseM
China’s first professional test base for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) has been put into service in Jingbian County, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. The Jingbian General Aviation Airport is also known as ASN UAS flight test site. Continue reading
US Marine Corps Procures First MQ-9A Reaper

U.S. Marine Corps Captain Joshua Brooks, an unmanned aircraft system representative, and Master Sergeant Willie Cheeseboro Jr., an enlisted aircrew coordinator with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1, prepare to launch and operate the first Marine Corps owned MQ-9A Reaper on Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. Aug. 30, 2021
The US Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, procured the Marine Corps’ first MQ-9A “Reaper” remotely piloted aircraft after transitioning from contractor owned, contractor operated to government owned, contractor operated at Marine Corps Aircraft Station Yuma, Arizona, August 30, 2021. Continue reading
Northrop Grumman Unveils Model 401 – Precursor of Model 437 UAV
Northrop Grumman on Sept. 8 unveiled the Model 401 aircraft, built by the Burt Rutan-founded, Northrop Grumman-owned Scaled Composites for an unnamed “very generous” customer in the words of Scaled Composites President Cory Bird. Continue reading




