Predator

The Secrets of the Drone Revolution

Richard Whittle, 2014 - 623.7469 WHI Beaverton Library

Much about development and operation.

• Abraham Karem, Israel-born aviation engineer, originally designed drones for Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) as decoys for Syrian radar.
• p25 Albatross RPV technology demonstrator, inverted V tail, 105 lb empty 95 lb fuel, very high fuel fraction for endurance
• p27 3h35m flight test, could have remained airborne for 48 hours
• p29 Yale's Neal Blue (1933?) and Linden Blue (1934)
• p42 Blue bros purchase GA Technologies in 1986 $55M, start developing unmanned drones

• p49 GA shows 340 pound 120 mph drone flying missile, Leading Systems (Karem) shows Amber RPV

• p66 GA purchases Leading Systems in 1989, including Gnat 750 design (750mm wing width at root)

• p83 new drone: 500 pound payload, 1100 mm (43 inch) wing root, 26 foot fuselage, 49 foot wing span, graphite epoxy composites, Austrian 4 cylinder Rotax 912 piston engine

  • Rotax 912 80hp 60 KW 1211cc, compression ratio of 9.1:1