Predator B flight over central California tracked on Flightwarea.com

As far as I know, this is the first time a UAV has been tracked on an internet aircraft tracking website.
www.lazygranch.com...

So....what? My guess is that it was some kind of training exercise.

The Ikhana (Predator B) UAV is being used to map wildfires. Notice the flight path is in the vicinity of the brush fire north of Santa Barbara that has been burning for over a month.

More information here:
www.aviationweek.com.../uav080107.xml

Awesome website! There are still sites out there that I have no idea even exist.
Thats one thing about this site that I love, despite its controversy at times, is the fact that I learn something new at least once a day

Thanks for the info. I placed it at the bottom of the page.

Any idea on serial number or tail number?

The Ikhana UAV is numbered NASA 870. It doesn't have a military serial number. It's a civil version of the MQ-9A Predator B/Reaper.

www.nasa.gov...

Originally posted by Shadowhawk
The Ikhana UAV is numbered NASA 870. It doesn't have a military serial number. It's a civil version of the MQ-9A Predator B/Reaper.

www.nasa.gov...

I understand that. However, the usual scheme would be for NASA870 to have civilian registration N870NA. But N870NA is not in the FAA registration.

The Ikhana UAV was originally built as a Predator B under a military contract so it probably has a military serial instead of a civilian registration. It has a General Atomics serial (or build number) GA-103.

Although it has been described as "the sixth Predator B," the number GA-103 suggests it is the third airframe in a series. Perhaps it is sixth if you count the pre-production Predator B UAVs. There were at least two prototype with FY02 serials, and maybe one other before that. I have seen later airframes with FY04 serials. I think the production airframes started with 04-0010.

NASA's Altair UAV was also a Predator B derivative. It had build number AA-001 and registration N8172V. Many NASA aircraft fly under NASA numbers but retain their military serials.

The FAA still has General Atomics as the owner of N8172V
registry.faa.gov...

This is good to know. I haven't search the database for aircraft owned by GA. N10023 looks interesting.
registry.faa.gov...
Any idea what it is?

Quote gariac

N10023 looks interesting

Judging by the date of registration, (09/26/2005),
and a corresponding GA press release, it seems like is probably the Altair. A high-altitude version of Predator® B



Looks like it was maping fires in '06. Reference

.





[edit on 8/21/07 by makeitso]

access5.aero seems to be history. Google turned this up, but the website is under maintenance:
centerforcollaboration.net...

This predator is scheduled to fly Friday (24th) afternoon.
www.mtexpress.com...

Originally posted by gariac
This predator is scheduled to fly Friday (24th) afternoon.
www.mtexpress.com...

Flight scheduled Wednesday.

flightaware.com...
Flight plan:
EDW..R2508..BIH141006..TPH039040..TWF187040..TWF300022..BOI036048/D0+30..HLE317022/D0+3 0..DBS049016..LVM160027/D0+30..DNW359036/D0+30..DNW121013/D0+30..JAC126018/D0+30..
DNW121013/D0+30..DNW359036/D0+30..LVM160027/D0+30..DBS049016..HLE317022/D0+30.. BOI036048/D0+30..TWF300022..TWF187040..TPH039040..BIH141006..R2508..EDW/2000

Flight plan on google earth
www.lazygranch.com/images/flytecom/nasa870_2.kmz

Background:
www.lazygranch.com...

Mod Edit: Added space to preserve margins


[edit on 9/6/07 by FredT]

The flight on 8/29/2007 is logged on flightaware.
flightaware.com...

If you want to see the route on google earth,
www.lazygranch.com...
You can save this file and open it in google earth, or use add->network link.

They followed the flight plan more or less. You can load the waypoints also to see how true they were to the flight plan:
www.lazygranch.com...

If you want the raw data, there is a bug in where flightaware thinks the track file is located. [Perhaps the long flight confused them.] The raw data is located at

flightaware.com...

I have updated the NASA870 page to include detailed maps of the 8/29 flight. The plane took a detour off the flight plan to go over Michael Army Airfield.

www.lazygranch.com...

One other thing to add as an FYI tidbit:

This weeks AWST mentions the Forest Service is evaluating Preditors for fire spotting and land management use etc.

We may have 100's of the things in the air beofre long as each service gets a hold of them.

Edit to add: oooops Shadowhawk already mentioned it

[edit on 9/6/07 by FredT]