Boeing Wedgetail

[airmcn_3]

Check out this:

"Australia's troubled Boeing Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW and C) aircraft have demonstrated the ability to simultaneously control three unmanned drone aircraft.

In a trial conducted in the United States last month, operators aboard the RAAF aircraft flying over Washington state remotely flew three ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The airborne operators issued NATO-standard sensor and flight control commands by way of a UHF satellite communication link and ground-station relay.

Boeing will conduct another demonstration of this capability at RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW, next month with a Wedgetail controlling ScanEagles operated by Boeing Defence Australia personnel at Woomera, South Australia , 1,730km away.

Pierce Lutter, Boeing associate technical fellow for unmanned vehicle control systems, said this would have been a considerable achievement if conducted in a laboratory setting.

"But we used currently fielded platforms and systems in a real-world setting to demonstrate a new level of command-and-control capability for war fighters," he said in a statement.

Under the $3.45 billion Wedgetail program, Australia is buying six Boeing 737 airborne early warning and control aircraft, each equipped with an advanced radar able to watch over a 400km radius, directing fighters to any threat.

The project has faced significant delays because of technical problems with the radar.

Under the original delivery schedule, the RAAF was to receive its first Wedgetails in November 2006. Under a new deed of agreement with Boeing , the first aircraft will arrive this November to begin aircrew training. It will have limited operational capability.

The remaining aircraft are scheduled to arrive by mid-2010 with full capability.

During his visit to the US this week for the annual Australia-US Ministerial talks (AUSMIN), Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon will hold talks with US company Northrop Grumman on Wedgetail radar progress.

Australia troops employed ScanEagle drones in Iraq and currently do so in Afghanistan .

Maureen Dougherty, Boeing vice-president in charge of the AEW and C program, said the ability to remotely control ScanEagle substantially increased the operational versatility of Wedgetail.

She said it also demonstrated that operational 737 AEW and C systems were robust enough to allow integration of future capabilities.

In the test last month, three ScanEagles were launched from Boeing's Boardman Test Facility in eastern Oregon, about 190km away from the airborne Wedgetail.

Operators tasked them with area search, reconnaissance, point surveillance and targeting".

[patrickegan]

Where did you find this story? I'd like to share with my ARC buddies...

[tekrunner]

Yes but what concerns me is did they have a COA? Did Boeing get the proper ITAR export approval? Would it matter? Ofcoarse not. Because companies like Boeing and other MIC companies are the ones that write the regulations via their puppets in the FAA and congress.

[airmcn_3]

Where did you find this story? I'd like to share with my ARC buddies...


Here you are:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5482065/boeing-wedgetail-able-control-drones/

[Mick Molloy]

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2009/q2/090406b_nr.html

[Mick Molloy]

Yes but what concerns me is did they have a COA? Did Boeing get the proper ITAR export approval? Would it matter? Ofcoarse not. Because companies like Boeing and other MIC companies are the ones that write the regulations via their puppets in the FAA and congress.

Believe me Boeing live and breathe ITAR ever minute of everyday.

[Quandumphone]

Probably flew the uav's in a restricted area. No COA needed for that.

[patrickegan]

Not true depending who you ask. The DOD has an MOU with the FAA for craft under 20lbs. Something like this is so far beyond was what agreed upon in the ARC for ever taking place in the NAS that it seems light year's away from the thinking of the manned stakeholders.

[patrickegan]

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2009/q2/090406b_nr.html
Gee whiz, I wonder if all of this tie-in is just coincidental???

R. D. Offutt Company - Northwest of Fargo, ND

http://www.innovators.net/innovators/public_html/about_the_center/entrepreneur_awards.html

http://www.uasresearch.org/news/default.asp?id=9&s=25&L1=5

I hate to sound like a conspiracy guy but... it sure would explain the lack of support by participants for the small business guy.

[Gary Mortimer]

I shot JR

[tekrunner]

I shot JR


????


Does anyone here actually think that the FAA is more influential then the combined lobbying effort of Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Atomics? I believe these companies are simply legislating the competition out of existence. What we are witnessing is a great example of corporate dictation of our nations laws in my opinion.

[mhaun5]

I shot JR
????


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_shot_J.R.%3F

[lvspark]

Thats great, I can't fly my SS VLOS with a camera on it cause its a UAV, but it is o.k. for some Aussies to play these games in my back yard..

Seems there would be more open space in AU than near populated cities in Oregon.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=boardman,OR+test+airport&sll=46.16081,-119.399414&sspn=1.012069,1.19751&ie=UTF8&ll=45.746534,-119.787669&spn=0.017879,0.045319&t=h&z=15

http://skyvector.com/#46-1-3-3942-2865

Edit: at least they filed a NOTAM this time..
06/086 - AIRSPACE UNMANNED ACFT 4400/BLW 5 NMR 1S8. WIE UNTIL 25 MAY 00:01 2009. CREATED: 10 JUN 17:19 2008

This one is..strange.
A0699/09 (GPS 04/010) - QXXXX GPS IS UNRELIABLE AND MAY BE UNAVAILABLE WITHIN A 325NM RADIUS OF THE HAZEN VORTAC /HZN/ 096 DEGREE RADIAL AT 045NM OR 392612N/1180122W AT FL400, DECREASING IN AREA WITH DECREASE IN ALTITUDE TO 270NM RADIUS AT FL250, 200NM RADIUS AT 10000 FT MSL, AND 180NM RADIUS AT 4000 FT AGL. F/G) SEE TEXT. 08 APR 18:00 2009 UNTIL 08 APR 22:00 2009. CREATED: 05 APR 16:38 2009

more notam general info from ORDER JO 78930.2M
b. Upon receipt of a waiver, but not more than 3 days prior to the event, issue NOTAMs for unmanned aircraft. The NOTAM text will include a description of the area.

1. Use the following data in the formation of the NOTAM for Unmanned Aircraft operations.

(a) Date/time the activity will begin.

(b) A description of the affected area in nautical miles.

(c) The altitudes affected.

(d) The identifier(s) of the affected ARTCC(s).

(e) Duration of the activity.

(f) FAA authorization to operate Unmanned Aircraft.

NOTE-
FAA authorization will be a Certificate of Authorization or Waiver, Special Airworthiness, or similar. FSS Personnel should receive a copy prior to issuance of the NOTAM.

2. Disseminate information received as follows using the affected ARTCC(s) as the affected location:

EXAMPLES-
!DEN ZDV AIRSPACE UNMANNED ACFT 50 NM EITHER SIDE GLD TO LAA 14000-16000 WEF 0712131300-0712151300

!ABQ ZAB AIRSPACE UNMANNED ACFT 10000/BLW 10 NMR OLS WEF 0712122100-0712122300

3. Unmanned Aircraft operations involving two or more ARTCCs.

EXAMPLES-
!CLE ZOB AIRSPACE UNMANNED ACFT 12000-15000 WITHIN AN AREA BOUNDED BY EKN049007 ESL188014 ESL187034 EKN170016 WEF 0711291600-0711300800

!DCA ZDC AIRSPACE UNMANNED ACFT 12000-15000 WITHIN AN AREA BOUNDED BY EKN049007 ESL188014 ESL187034 EKN170016 WEF 0711291600-0711300800

NOTE-
Use of ARTCC identifiers as the Affected Location for Unmanned Aircraft NOTAMs will ensure pilots receive the informationfor flight plan routes in the same Center airspace. Additional Pointer NOTAMs may be issued as necessary.

[Mick Molloy]

Thats great, I can't fly my SS VLOS with a camera on it cause its a UAV, but it is o.k. for some Aussies to play these games in my back yard..


LOL it was Boeing US and Insitu as they have the Aircraft for testing not the RAAF.

[lvspark]

LOL it was Boeing US and Insitu as they have the Aircraft for testing not the RAAF.

"operators aboard the RAAF aircraft flying over Washington state remotely flew three ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems"

No beef with AU, just the BS we get out of DC

[patrickegan]

This one is..strange.


more notam general info from ORDER JO 78930.2M
[COLOR=Navy]b. Upon receipt of a waiver, but not more than 3 days prior to the event, issue NOTAMs for unmanned aircraft. The NOTAM text will include a description of the area.



That is weird?!?

The demo may also explain why we had a member of the Australian army at last months UAS demo at Quantico??? Zoinks Scoob!!! Like, if it get's any deeper RCGroups is going to need to hire a house dick! :D

[CenTexFlyer]

[QUOTE=patrickeganGee whiz, I wonder if all of this tie-in is just coincidental???

I hate to sound like a conspiracy guy but... it sure would explain the lack of support by participants for the small business guy.[/QUOTE]

Naaahhh..... Our government wouldn't allow that to happen..... would it?

[RCAV8R13]

Yes but what concerns me is did they have a COA? Did Boeing get the proper ITAR export approval? Would it matter? Ofcoarse not. Because companies like Boeing and other MIC companies are the ones that write the regulations via their puppets in the FAA and congress.
The Boardman facility is Navy controlled airspace. We have been coordinating with them to fly there since 2002. Everything was on the up and up. Don't worry, we know what we're doing.

Kip

[patrickegan]

Kip,
Of course it all on the up and up! We are all aware that you guys are under the watchful eye of the FAA. Stories like this offer a glimmer of hope for the rest of us as they prove anything is possible within the exception process (COA). Any possibility of posting the COA and supporting safety information, applications and flight plan? (Nothing proprietary or secret of course.) The safety criteria and risk analysis would go far in illustrating what is required by folks who are involved (or would be) in this industry. Three flying at one time 119 miles beyond VLOS (visual line of sight) and at the very least 100+ miles off the range… the data you guys must of had to hand in on the software alone would be enough to choke a mule.

Fellow UAS enthusiasts,
This is the same criteria we’ll have to comply with when flying 2 and 3 pound foam aircraft within VLOS. And no, VLOS it’s not a mile. :)

[lvspark]

I look at how great the scan eagle program has become, and how fast they got there without the SUAS FAA BS. Imagine all the development that was easily able to occur by just going down to the waterfront.. Not like that anymore. Innovation has taken a hit for sure..

[patrickegan]

This story and example should be making it’s way around the hill as I type. (I’ve got people ;) ) It shows that the FAA must have “some” criteria that has made it to prime time.

I see this as a giant leap forward for all of us involved but, then again I’m a glass half full kinda guy! :)

I look at how great the scan eagle program has become, and how fast they got there without the SUAS FAA BS. Imagine all the development that was easily able to occur by just going down to the waterfront.. Not like that anymore. Innovation has taken a hit for sure..

Funny, Tad said the same thing.

[Gary Mortimer]

Patrick, next time your at one of those gigs, see if you can see the rubber mask ring round the neck, that handsome chap always removes a mask.

What was the name of the car???

Snacks anyone?

[patrickegan]

Gotta get me a talking dog :D

[RCAV8R13]

I look at how great the scan eagle program has become, and how fast they got there without the SUAS FAA BS. Imagine all the development that was easily able to occur by just going down to the waterfront.. Not like that anymore. Innovation has taken a hit for sure..
You got that right. I miss the days of "landing on the crane". The Columbia river is a "gorgeous" place to fly. Hitting the rope hanging from a 90 foot crane, over water, was pretty comfortable, even with the cross wind and a 100lbs plane.
No doubt you all have been hearing about the USS Bainbridge on site at the hostage stand off with the captain of the Alabama cargo ship. ScanEagle is deployed aboard the Bainbridge and flew out an hour ahead to give the skipper a birds eye view long before they got on site. Pretty cool.

Kip

[lvspark]

Thanks for your contribution on that great plane.

[RCAV8R13]

Thanks for your contribution on that great plane.
It's been my pleasure. Wait till you see the new one.

Kip

[Gary Mortimer]

Fair play Kip, I think most of us would like a copy of that airframe, looks right.

Funnily enough a week ago I spent sometime on Youtube watching videos of it.

Who came up with the wire catch, its blindingly simple but not an obvious solution.

Cheers

G

[RCAV8R13]

Fair play Kip, I think most of us would like a copy of that airframe, looks right.

Funnily enough a week ago I spent sometime on Youtube watching videos of it.

Who came up with the wire catch, its blindingly simple but not an obvious solution.

Cheers

G
Our founder, Tad McGeer came up with the idea. The best part of it is that you can miss by as little as a millimeter and the plane won't crash. You just fly around and try again. You can abort at anytime without fear of hitting any structure. Not so with a net.

Kip

[fuelsguy]

Kip, since you are down on the Gorge, can you answer a question, or PM me:
The photos of the Integrator show twin booms with a single outboard tailplane on each boom, but the Boeing UAS presentation at Paris Airshow shows what looks like a more conventional tail set high between the booms, like the old Dh 110, Sea Vixen. So which one is the real version?

Ivor

PS I ask because I'm trying to decide which type to build as a 1/2 scale RC model.

[b36roxs]

weird i was just out at boeing field in seattle last week and i saw a wedge tail cruisin' around and land and it taxied by with a crash truck and armored escort to the fenced off area.

[RCAV8R13]

Kip, since you are down on the Gorge, can you answer a question, or PM me:
The photos of the Integrator show twin booms with a single outboard tailplane on each boom, but the Boeing UAS presentation at Paris Airshow shows what looks like a more conventional tail set high between the booms, like the old Dh 110, Sea Vixen. So which one is the real version?

Ivor

PS I ask because I'm trying to decide which type to build as a 1/2 scale RC model.
The new joined tail is the final configuration. We changed the tail to gain more C.G. range for more payload options.
Kip

[Myron]

Patrick,

This story and many more UA milestones and events are in "Aviation Week & Space technology".. I have the original if you want it.

Myron