UAVs

[dtfl]

From dtfl's 2nd link:

As a general rule, we fly hurricanes at 10,000', and Tropical Storms at 5,000'. Both are millibar levels. We release dropsondes that gather data between the acft and the surface. The Hurricane Center is most concerned with surface data because that's what affects the folks where the storm landfalls. UAVs could collect a lot more low level data since they fly much lower than we. We're also limited to a 16 hr duty day. If the storm moves differently than forecast, or we pick up and go to the spare acft, the back end of our mission is usually impacted. Not good, especially if we're flying a landfalling hurricane. Much mo' better to have a UAV that can stay aloft a lot longer and that doesn't have to land to disgorge/engulf crewdogs. Speaking of crewdogs, it'll probably require 2, rather than the 5 on the WC-130. Probably a LOT less MX required, also. I have no doubt it's only a matter of time, if it ain't already happened, before there's a WX UAV that can stay aloft a lot longer than the 13.5 or so we can get at our upper limit, gets better data, and costs a lot less to operate. Just my $.02.

The only problem with a UAV WX bird is...there goes the good looking ARWO.....well..all 2 or 3 of them.

 

[Gorilla]

:bawling:

I never thought I'd see it. It makes me sad. An era is passing into history.

 

[mzaharis]

:bawling:

I never thought I'd see it. It makes me sad. An era is passing into history.

Don't shed tears just yet!

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blog...79a7Post:8a4530dd-5363-4c56-b3ba-166bee04ab59


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UAVs are not the final answer, says the officer. "The problem is high persistence and small loads. They carry four weapons and will use the first four in 30 minutes in response to troops in contact. What do you do in the next 22 hours?" An aircraft like the Su-25, he points out, "can carry a shedload, get back on the ground and rearm in no time flat."

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[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]By the way, isn't an A-10 like that ([FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]carry a shedload, get back on the ground and rearm in no time flat[/FONT][/FONT])?[/FONT][/FONT]