http://www.dodbuzz.com/2008/09/05/uavs-for-hurricanes-coming/ Online Defense and Acquisition Journal Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:43:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.dodbuzz.com/2008/09/05/uavs-for-hurricanes-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-1331 Eric Daniel Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:17:12 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=932#comment-1331 I would think one of the biggest challenges facing such a program, as was touched on in the article, would be the physical limitations of the UAV. As stated, while UAVs have a big advantage in loiter times, I would think their size (mass), power, and payload capacity would be distinct disadvantages. Not only does a WC-130 have the cargo capacity to carry a large number of radiosonde buoys but they also have the power and mass to fly where they want to and survive the hurricane winds. My guess is this insn't one of those situations where you just repurpose a global hawk or a predator and call it good. I would think one of the biggest challenges facing such a program, as was touched on in the article, would be the physical limitations of the UAV. As stated, while UAVs have a big advantage in loiter times, I would think their size (mass), power, and payload capacity would be distinct disadvantages. Not only does a WC-130 have the cargo capacity to carry a large number of radiosonde buoys but they also have the power and mass to fly where they want to and survive the hurricane winds. My guess is this insn’t one of those situations where you just repurpose a global hawk or a predator and call it good.

]]> http://www.dodbuzz.com/2008/09/05/uavs-for-hurricanes-coming/comment-page-1/#comment-1328 Robert G. Lisi Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:25:44 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=932#comment-1328 A step in the right direction for hurricane recon for the future. I remember my low level flights into hurricanes. The Navy Hurricane Hunters (VW-4). Long flight hours out in the middle of the Atlantic. And very low penetration Altitudes into the eye of the storm. The aircraft, WC121N, saved my life. A step in the right direction for hurricane recon for the future. I remember my
low level flights into hurricanes. The Navy Hurricane Hunters (VW-4).
Long flight hours out in the middle of the Atlantic. And very low penetration
Altitudes into the eye of the storm. The aircraft, WC121N, saved my life.

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