Because dirigibles were one of these great idea the primary, completely non-disastrous time around, Lockheed Martin and the united states Army have teamed as much as bring the quaint technology back into our hyper-modern era. The lighter-than-air vehicle got a brand new lease on unmanned flight life when it launched yesterday from its base in Akron, Ohio. The High Altitude Long Endurance-Demonstrator (HALE-D for brief) reached 32,000 ft during its maiden voyage before technical difficulties cut the test short, forcing an emergency landing within the deep woods of southwestern Pennsylvania. Despite the flight-aborting hiccup, the worldwide security company is all smiles, citing the successful demonstration of “communications links, [the] unique propulsion system, solar array electricity generation [and] remote piloting communications.” Future real-world versions of HALE-D could function an army “telecommunications relay system” over foreign terrain — like Afghanistan — where radio signals can’t penetrate. The Defense Department contractor is currently retrieving the airship from its foresty crash pad, but you’re able to bet some locals already called this close encounter in to the local papers. Skip past the break for Archer’s tackle our government’s latest airborne effort.
AKRON, Ohio, July 27th, 2011 — The U.S. Army and Lockheed Martin launched the 1st-of-its kind High Altitude Long Endurance-Demonstrator this morning, demonstrating quite a few key technologies critical to development of unmanned airships.
The aircraft successfully launched at 5:47 a.m. out of the Airdock in Akron, Ohio. The airship reached an altitude of roughly 32,000 feet, however, a technical anomaly prevented the airship from attaining its target altitude of 60,000 feet and the HALE-D team decided to terminate the flight.
The aircraft descended without incident at 8:26 a.m. in southwestern Pennsylvania to a predetermined landing location. Lockheed Martin is coordinating with state and native authorities to recover the airship. Now we have confirmed that no injuries or damage were experienced in this landing in a heavily woodland.
“While we didn’t reach the objective altitude, first flights of latest technologies like HALE-D also afford us the facility to be informed and test with a mind toward future developments,” said Dan Schultz, vice chairman ship and aviation systems for Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems & Sensors business. “We demonstrated quite a lot of advanced technologies, including launch and control of the airship, communications links, unique propulsion system, solar array electricity generation, remote piloting communications and control capability, in-flight operations, and regulated vehicle recovery to a remote un-populated area.”
The HALE-D is an unmanned solar-powered lighter-than-air vehicle designed to hover 12 miles above the earth’s surface for extended periods of time. The airship is designed to illustrate advanced new technologies and capabilities for keeping American soldiers safer through improved communications.
Lockheed Martin is inside the technique of recovering the airship and should conduct a whole evaluation.
The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (SMDC/ARSTRAT) contracted with Lockheed Martin to develop the High Altitude Airship program to enhance the military’s ability to speak in remote areas along with those in Afghanistan, where mountainous terrain frequently interferes with communications signals. The airship will function a stationery long-term overhead platform for a telecommunications relay system a good way to expand the variability and reliability of battlefield communications.
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