A New European Platform
European light aviation has always been renowned for its innovation with firms such as Grob and Pilatus exporting various designs all over the world.The Pipistrel Surveyor counts as another classic example because the versatility of the airframe speaks for itself. This also demonstrates how the continent of Europe is up there amongst all in coming up with new ideas for emerging applications.
Pipistrel is based in Slovenia and markets the Surveyor as a motorised platform for customers desiring solutions within intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The Surveyor was designed to undertake long endurance missions and provide real time data. This platform can be optimised for manned or unmanned operation. The fit of sensors and avionics can also be matched to individual customers specifications. Dynon supplies the avionics for the manned piloted version which includes a touchscreen. The single screen instrument incorporates all flight functions. The Surveyor can be assembled in three versions aimed at low, medium or high altitudes. High altitude covers from 18000 ft to 30000 ft. The low altitude version is powered by a Rotax 912 A2 V3 engine. The low altitude short endurance version can loiter at a maximum speed of 90 knots. This platform can be operated 24 hours both day and night.
Applications are many for such a platform such as this, including border surveillance and homeland security. It would also be used in anti-poaching operations in protected wildlife reserves. This platform would also be ideal for moving target detection and tracking notably to stop such cross border crime as people trafficking. It might find a role in convoy protection or pipeline monitoring to prevent sabotage. In a civil engineering context, it can be used for 3D terrain scanning or modelling for building new railways or infrastructure. The mining sector could also deploy this platform for terrain surveys in mapping potential sites for new ore deposits.
(see www.airinternational.com)
Mark Sandford - Permission granted to freely distribute this article for non-commercial purposes if attributed to Mark Sandford, unedited and copied in full, including this notice.
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