RQ-7A Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Deployed December
2003
United Industrial Corporation announced this week a US Army
RQ-7A Shadow tactical unmanned aircraft, designed and produced by
its subsidiary AAI corporation, has been selected for induction
into the aircraft collection of the Smithsonian Institution's
National Air and Space Museum for outstanding service over
Iraq.
Aircraft number 1026 was selected for inclusion in the
collection in recognition of its role as one of the first unmanned
aircraft deployed to Iraq by the Army as a tactical combat
resource.
The veteran aircraft will be delivered to the museum's Paul E.
Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility in Silver
Hill, MD where it will be readied for eventual display, according
to the company.
"It's an incredible honor to have one of our Shadow unmanned
aircraft selected for display among all of the outstanding US
aviation treasures in the National Air and Space Museum," said
Frederick M. Strader, president and chief executive officer of
United Industrial and AAI Corporation.
"Ironically, Shadow unmanned aircraft number 1026 was deployed
by the US Army to Iraq in the 100th anniversary year of the
invention of manned flight by Orville and Wilbur Wright," Strader
added. "Now this unique aircraft will have its place in the
National Air and Space Museum along with the 1903 Wright Flyer and
thousands of others in the historic collection."
With the nickname Screamin' Demon and fierce, fiend-like artwork
painted on its nose by its Army operators, the aircraft entered
Army combat service in September 2002, accomplishing its first
surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence-gathering mission
over Baghdad on April 17, 2003, a few weeks after the onset of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Screamin' Demon achieved nearly 29 months of Iraq service during
tours with the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division, Stryker Brigade
Combat Team #2, and the 82nd Airborne Division. Its last combat
flight in Iraq took place on September 12, 2005, totaling 124
missions and nearly 500 flight hours. The aircraft returned to the
United States for scheduled overhaul and re-conditioning before
taking on a new role in training support for aircrews.
First deployed to Iraq at the outset of military operations
there in early 2003, Shadow aircraft have flown more than 36,000
sorties and 173,000 flight hours in support of US and allied
operations, according to the company.