NASA Tests Concept For Firefighting UAVs | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.29.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.23.24

 Airborne-Unlimited-04.24.24 Airborne-FltTraining-04.25.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.26.24

Fri, Jun 30, 2006

NASA Tests Concept For Firefighting UAVs

Would Fly At Night... When Manned Planes Can't

Could crews battling harsh summertime wildfires throughout the country one day benefit from UAVs? That's a question NASA is seeking to answer... and from the sound of it, the agency may just be on to something.

Scientists with NASA's Ames research facility in California are experimenting with a specially-equipped drone aircraft, that could provide firefighters an overhead look at the flames on overnight missions. Manned observation and firebomber planes are grounded at night for safety reasons.

As NASA research scientist Vince Ambrosia put it to Los Angeles television station KNBC... the drones would be an ideal answer to "Triple-D" missions -- dull, dark, and dangerous -- in that they could orbit a fire for hours on end, monitoring the path of the flames... while keeping human firefighting pilots out of danger.

Earlier this month, the US Forest Service intentionally set fires at California's Fort Hunter Liggett to test the UAVs' abilities... and the results, reportedly, are encouraging.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/home/index.html

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.28.24): Airport Marking Aids

Airport Marking Aids Markings used on runway and taxiway surfaces to identify a specific runway, a runway threshold, a centerline, a hold line, etc. A runway should be marked in ac>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.28.24)

"It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for manned aircraft to see a drone while conducting crop-enhancing and other aerial applications at low altitudes and high speeds. We>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.28.24)

Aero Linx: The Skyhawk Association The Skyhawk Association is a non-profit organization founded by former Skyhawk Pilots which is open to anyone with an affinity for the A-4 Skyhaw>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.29.24)

“The T-54A benefits from an active Beechcraft King Air assembly line in Wichita, Kansas, where all required METS avionics and interior modifications are installed on the line>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.29.24)

Aero Linx: Aerostar Owners Association The Association offers the Aerostar Owner a unique opportunity to tap an invaluable source of information concerning the care and feeding of >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.02.24: Bobby Bailey, SPRG Report Cards, Skydive!

Airborne 05.01.24: WACO Kitchen, FAA Reauthorization, World Skydiving Day

Airborne-NextGen 04.30.24: Skydweller Flies, Cassio 330, UAV Design Competition

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC