Predator crashed

"Bart D. Hull" wrote:

Are you sure it's Rotax powered?

Last RPV I saw up close on the Arizona border used two Moto Guzzi 650CC
motorcycle engines, with GM alternators grafted on the motors to replace
the Guzzi alternators. (Boy those electronics must pull some juice!!)
Sounds like it was on the same area that we caught up with it on, when
it crashed.

You should see some of the fun stuff that flies around here in the vast
spaces.

Bart D. Hull

Tempe, Arizona

Check http://www.inficad.com/~bdhull/engine.html
for my Subaru Engine Conversion
Check http://www.inficad.com/~bdhull/fuselage.html
for Tango II I'm building.



Hey, Bart, that's a nice project you have going there.
Pretty shape too.


Richard

Neat project Richard... My compliments...

denny

On Mon, 01 May 2006 22:23:50 -0700, Ron Wanttaja
wrote:

On Tue, 2 May 2006 00:36:12 -0400, "Morgans" wrote:


"Richard Lamb" wrote

I heard rumor it was shot down...

That's one hell of a good shot, if it really was at 12,000 feet, as it was
reported to be! g

Reminds me about the story about the Fed pouncing on a rancher who'd fired a
rifle at a military fighter that he claimed had been buzzing his cattle. The
fighter pilot denied it, claiming he'd been in straight-and-level flight several
thousand feet up.

Fighter pilot, however, could NOT explain why the rifle bullet's exit hole was
only slightly higher on the left side of the fuselage than the entry hole in the
right....

Ron Wanttaja

turning while shot.
a steep turn would make the situation easily achieved.

Stealth pilot

On Tue, 02 May 2006 21:28:23 +0800, Stealth Pilot wrote:


Reminds me about the story about the Fed pouncing on a rancher who'd fired a
rifle at a military fighter that he claimed had been buzzing his cattle. The
fighter pilot denied it, claiming he'd been in straight-and-level flight several
thousand feet up.

Fighter pilot, however, could NOT explain why the rifle bullet's exit hole was
only slightly higher on the left side of the fuselage than the entry hole in the
right....

turning while shot.
a steep turn would make the situation easily achieved.

Certainly...except the pilot was already on record saying he'd been flying
straight-and-level....

Ron Wanttaja

Richard Riley wrote:
It was a Pred B.

"The turboprop-powered Predator B, designated MQ-9B by the US Air Force
and referred to as the Hunter-Killer, flies faster, higher and carries
more weapons than the Predator. The Honeywell TP331-10 engine,
producing 950 shp, provides a maximum airspeed of 260 kts and a cruise
speed for maximum endurance of 150-170 kts. The MQ-9B can carry a
payload mix of 1,500 lb. on each of its two inboard weapons stations,
500-600 lb. on the two middle stations and 150-200 lb. on the outboard
stations. "

Hmm.
I wonder if there is a pilot/operative 'munition' available.
A pod hung on one of the hardpoints, with a parachute for emergency
egress.
Hmm.
Put JDAM on it, a braking rocket, and you can land anywhere

Morgans wrote:

wrote

A lttle discussed issue about RPVs is that they do not survive
ordinary use that well. I read somewhere that 1000 hours has rarely
been exceeded before some glitch or other stuffs them into a hillside
or cornfield even without being shot at.

That seems a little strange. With a reported price of 6.8 MILLION Dollars,
I would think reliability would rival the best of small aircraft.

Oh, it probably does.

But, there is a whole lot of other crap, in addition to 'normal'
airplane stuff that has to work in order for it not to fly into the
ground.

And even really stupid pilots are not prone to not notice the ground
approaching.

And even really stupid pilots are not prone to not notice the ground
approaching.

Lessee...

"one good man, fighting for his life, is worth 10 overgrown children playing
a video game."

or was that

"No better bilge pump has ever been invented than a scared man with a
bucket."

That's the Hunter. It's changing to diesel, but it's the first UAV to
do so. All the others are gasoline (except for the Predator B and
Global Hawk, of course)

I'd love to get me one of these for an ultralight
http://www.uavenginesltd.co.uk/index.php?id=393

On Mon, 1 May 2006 20:06:34 -0400, "Morgans"
wrote:

I read in Avweb that a predator crashed, recently.

Anyone wanna make a bet, that it's Rotax puked? g

Sorry, everyone. I couldn't pass up the opportunity! :-)

Her's a link to a photo and some info on a Global Hawk.

http://www.asberry.net/Aircraft.htm

--Andy Asberry recommends NewsGuy--

"Richard Lamb" wrote in message ...


Morgans wrote:

I read in Avweb that a predator crashed, recently.

Anyone wanna make a bet, that it's Rotax puked? g

Sorry, everyone. I couldn't pass up the opportunity! :-)
--
Jim in NC


I heard rumor it was shot down...

RC planes get shot down pretty often - the term used when someone interferes with your radio signal causing a loss of
control...


;-)