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-05.06.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.07.24

 Airborne-Unlimited-05.08.24 Airborne-FlightTraining-05.09.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.10.24

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

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.09.24)

"Fly-by-wire flight, coupled with additional capability that are being integrated into ALFA, provide a great foundation for Bell to expand on its autonomous capabilities. This airc>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.09.24): Hold Procedure

Hold Procedure A predetermined maneuver which keeps aircraft within a specified airspace while awaiting further clearance from air traffic control. Also used during ground operatio>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.09.24)

Aero Linx: B-21 Raider The B-21 Raider will be a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions. The B-21 will form th>[...]

Airborne 05.03.24: Advanced Powerplant Solutions, PRA Runway Woes, Drone Racing

Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]

Airborne-NextGen 05.07.24: AI-Piloted F-16, AgEagle, 1st 2 WorldView Sats

Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne 05.10.24: Icon Auction, Drunk MedEvac Pilot, Bell ALFA

Airborne-Flight Training 05.09.24: ERAU at AIAA, LIFT Diamond Buy, Epic A&P

Airborne 05.08.24: Denali Update, Dad-Daughter Gyro, Lake SAIB

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

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