Category Archives: Applications & Testing & Experience

Airport Deploys Drones for Runway Maintenance

Michael Baker International, a Pittsburg-based supplier of engineering, planning and consulting services, recently marked a significant milestone for the aviation industry as it partnered with the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to use Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)—commonly known as drones—to inspect runway conditions. The mission was the first of its kind to use drones on the airfield of an international airport in the United States during daily airport operations. Continue reading →

Lockheed Martin Continues Successful Fury Flight Tests

Lockheed Martin‘s advanced tactical Group 3 unmanned aerial system (UAS), Fury, is regularly flying long-range endurance test missions as the company prepares it for low-rate production. Continue reading →

DARPA Service Academies Swarm Challenge Live-Fly Competition Begins

Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other robots have become increasingly affordable, capable, and available to both the U.S. military and adversaries alike. Enabling UAVs and similar assets to perform useful tasks under human supervision—that is, carrying out swarm tactics in concert with human teammates—holds tremendous promise to extend the advantages U.S. warfighters have in field operations. Continue reading →

Virginia Tech Aviation Partnership Test BVLOS Flights

Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, Ligado Networks, AeroVironment, Inc., and Dominion Virginia Power evaluated communications strategies and other parameters to help build a safety case for unmanned aircraft flights beyond the visual line of sight of a pilot or observer. Continue reading →

IAI Updates Panther Design After Landing Mishap

After investigating the cause of a landing mishap involving its hybrid Panther unmanned air vehicle late last year, Israel Aerospace Industries is to update the vertical take-off and landing design’s fuselage and wing to boost performance. Continue reading →

Swarms of Drones Test New Dogfighting Skills

Aerial dogfighting began more than a century ago in the skies over Europe with propeller-driven fighter aircraft carried aloft on wings of fabric and wood. An event held recently in southern California could mark the beginning of a new chapter in this form of aerial combat.

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Oxai Aircraft Nearing First Flight for M2 Amphibian

After introducing its M2 Skywave amphibious airplane at ABACE last year, Oxai Aircraft returned to this year’s iteration of the show with certification plans firmly in place. Water testing will begin next week, and first flight of the M2 should take place in about two months, said Oxai chief designer, president and CEO Roger Mao.

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US Air Force, Lockheed Martin Demonstrate Manned/Unmanned Teaming

Photo: US Air Force

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School and Calspan Corporation successfully demonstrated manned/unmanned teaming to improve combat efficiency and effectiveness for the warfighter. Continue reading →