The unmanned Gray Eagle has automatic takeoff and landing capabilities. Here it is in Camp Taji, Iraq before a surveillance mission. By using complicated algorithms, much of the flying is done by itself. The unit has flown nearly 7,000 accident-free hours and more than 350 combat missions, produced more than 16,000 surveillance-type images, and maintained a systems-operational readiness rate of about 93 percent.The unmanned Gray Eagle has automatic takeoff and landing capabilities. Here it is in Camp The United States Army has a new weapon in its arsenal called the MQ-1C Gray Eagle. Many believe unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are the future of aviation, because they’re cheaper, safer, and stay in the air longer than helicopters. Whereas the Air Force’s Predator drones were powered by aviation gasoline and remotely flown by officers in the Untied States, the Army’s Gray Eagles are diesel powered and controlled from portable shelters on the battlefield. The Gray Eagle also provides a bird’s-eye view to soldiers on the ground, which can be seen via a laptop. Spc. Stephen Southern of Santa Maria, California, is a Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft operator. He’s monitoring the Iraqi countryside from a shelter where he pilots the aircraft. Southern is among the first Army operators to pilot the aircraft in combat. One use of the aircraft is to take a picture, and then go back a few days later and take the same shot. The two images are compared to see if anything has changed—like the planting of an IED explosive.Spc. Stephen Southern of Santa Maria, California, is a Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft operat During a recent demonstration at Shadow Range, a munitions testing facility in Western Iraq, a Gray Eagle launched six Hellfire missiles—and each one hit its mark. A smaller drone was even used to direct the sixth shot by pointing a laser at the target. MIL-SPEC: Gray Eagle Manufacturer: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) Max. altitude: 29,000 feet Max. endurance: More than 30 hours Max. air speed: 135 knots true airspeed (approximately 155 mph) Payload: 1,075 pounds Engine: Thielert Centurion inline-four piston turbodiesel Displacement: 2.0L (121.5 ci) Bore: 3.26 inches (83 mm) Stroke: 3.62 inches (92 mm) Compression: 18:1 Dimensions (WxLxH): 30.63 x 32.12 x 25.04 inches (778 x 816 x 636 mm) Weight (complete and dry): 295.4 pounds (134 kg) Power: 135 hp (recommended load: 75 percent) Torque: 302 lb-ft Max. rpm: 4,500 rpm Fuel consumption: 0.35 lb/hphr Fuel type: Diesel (EN590), Jet A, JP-8, Chinese Jet Fuel No. 3 Valvetrain: Dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) Fuel Injection system: Common-rail direct injection Cooling: Liquid Oil system: Wet sump Pop drive: Reduction gearbox with integrated clutch Propeller: Three-blade with hydraulic variable pitch Engine lifetime: 1,500 hours SOURCES General Atomics Aeronautical Systems 858-312-2810 www.ga-asi.com United States Army 888-550-ARMY www.army.com Thielert N/A www.thielert.com By Jason Thompson Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
