General Atomics RQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Certified for FS9 (FS2004)
GA Predator / Range - 675 miles / Max. Speed -
135 mph / Cruise Speed - 81-103 mph / Pax - Unmanned
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Specifications
Crew.........................................
0 (Remotely Controlled)
Seating Capacity.................................... 0
Length.................................................. 27 Feet
Wingspan............................................. 48.7 Feet
Height.................................................. 6 Feet 9 Inches
Empty Weight......................... 1,130 lbs.
Loaded Weight.................... 2,250 lbs.
Service Ceiling...................................... 25,000 feet
Range .................................... 460 miles
Engine............. 1 Rotax turbocharged four-cylinder engine, 115 hp
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ROLE
The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator is an unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) used primarily
by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA). Initially
conceived in the early 1990s for reconnaissance and forward observation roles,
the Predator carries cameras and
other sensors but has been modified and upgraded to carry and fire two AGM-114
Hellfire missiles
or other munitions. The aircraft, in use since 1995, has seen combat over
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bosnia,
Serbia, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and Somalia. Because offensive uses of the Predator
are classified, U.S.
military officials have reported an appreciation for the intelligence and
reconnaissance-gathering abilities of UAVs
but declined to publicly discuss their offensive use.
Civilian applications have included border enforcement and
scientific studies. While most jobs flying drones
currently are military-related, universities and colleges expect that to change
by 2015, when the Federal
Aviation Administration is due to release regulations for unmanned aircraft in
domestic airspace.
Once those regulations are in place, the FAA predicts that 10,000 commercial
drones will be operating in
the U.S. within five years. Soon, drones will be monitoring livestock and oil
pipelines, spotting animal
poachers, tracking down criminals fleeing crime scenes and delivering packages
for UPS and FedEx.
The Universal Predator also provides an "Autoland" feature for
automated ILS/Glideslope landings.