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	<title>sUAS News &#187; OPV</title>
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	<description>Small unmanned aviation system industry news for professionals • Drones, UAS, nUAS, pUAS and more...</description>
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		<title>Centaur Makes First Automatic Landings</title>
		<link>http://www.suasnews.com/2011/07/6075/centaur-makes-first-automatic-landings/</link>
		<comments>http://www.suasnews.com/2011/07/6075/centaur-makes-first-automatic-landings/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:51:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gary Mortimer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aurora Flight Sciences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OPV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.suasnews.com/?p=6075</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that its Centaur optionally-piloted aircraft has successfully completed its first fully automatic landings. The tests were conducted at Warrenton, Virginia. Aurora designed Centaur to fly as a normal manned aircraft, as an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), or in a &#8220;hybrid manned/unmanned&#8221; mode in which control may be transferred between an onboard crew and ground-based crew. &#8220;Centaur is designed to be a very flexible, affordable and reliable aircraft system for a broad market of users. This successful flight test of the automatic landing system keeps us on schedule for deliveries in early 2012,&#8221; said Aurora CEO John Langford. Centaur is flying on a special FAA airworthiness certificate that allows flight tests to occur with UAV flight controls commanding the aircraft and a safety pilot on board, who can take control if needed. This capability is a unique benefit of the Optionally-Piloted Aircraft (OPA) design. Centaur is based on the Diamond DA42 MPP general aviation aircraft. The twin-engine, all-composite DA42 uses jet fuel instead of gasoline and can carry four passengers. It has a maximum endurance of twelve hours in its manned mode and up to twenty-four hours in its unmanned mode. Bookmark It Hide Sites $$('div.d6075').each( [...]]]></description>
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		<title>NASA Outreach Program Assists Peregrine With Research for Optionally Piloted Aircraft</title>
		<link>http://www.suasnews.com/2011/07/6037/nasa-outreach-program-assists-peregrine-with-research-for-optionally-piloted-aircraft/</link>
		<comments>http://www.suasnews.com/2011/07/6037/nasa-outreach-program-assists-peregrine-with-research-for-optionally-piloted-aircraft/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:57:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gary Mortimer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OPV]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peregrine]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.suasnews.com/?p=6037</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[MELBOURNE, Fla. &#8212; The NASA funded Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP) strives to transfer the knowledge and technology of the space program to small businesses. Through SATOP, the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), a SATOP Space Alliance partner, provided Computational Fluid Dynamics research assistance to Peregrine, a manufacturer of an emerging Optionally Piloted Aircraft (OPA) derived from a FAA certified aircraft. FIT&#8217;s faculty, technical expertise, and highly motivated students are a tremendous resource for small aerospace businesses. The Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) founded the SATOP program and have administered it since 1994. TRDA works with early-stage technology companies and entrepreneurs to accelerate their business planning, fundraising efforts, business development strategies and growth. Since its inception in 1987, TRDA has mentored hundreds of technology entrepreneurs and has supported over 175 new technology companies that have created more than 1,350 high wage jobs throughout Florida. The Optionally Piloted Aircraft (OPA) is a hybrid between a conventional piloted aircraft and robotic unmanned aircraft system, also referred to as a &#8220;Drone.&#8221; OPA&#8217;s offer the best of both worlds &#8212; enhanced human aviator performance and the capability of a robotic aircraft for missions not suitable for manned flight. The prospective Peregrine OPA [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Another OPV takes to the sky</title>
		<link>http://www.suasnews.com/2011/05/5406/another-opv-takes-to-the-sky/</link>
		<comments>http://www.suasnews.com/2011/05/5406/another-opv-takes-to-the-sky/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 May 2011 14:36:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gary Mortimer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Military]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Northrop Grumman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OPV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.suasnews.com/?p=5406</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The DA42 still has the prize for us as a proven OPV platform but this week Northrup Grumman unveiled their latest project the Firebird. Firebird offers a large internal payload bay and an ability to operate multiple intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and communications payloads simultaneously through a universal interface. The system is designed to be flown as a manned or unmanned aircraft. As lead for the Firebird program, Northrop Grumman developed the unmanned systems architecture, control and mission systems. The company chose Scaled Composites to design, build and test the aircraft – with first flight occurring just 12 months after the initial concept discussions. &#8220;We&#8217;ve harnessed the innovative techniques of Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites to deliver an unprecedented information-gathering capability,&#8221; said Paul Meyer, vice president and general manager of advanced programs and technology for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. &#8220;Firebird addresses future budgetary constraints by combining the best of our piloted and unmanned ISR systems into a single solution ready for a variety of ISR missions.&#8221; Firebird&#8217;s universal interface is similar to plugging a memory stick into a personal computer that is automatically recognized without needing to load additional software. &#8220;Not only have we increased the number of ISR sensors [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Centaur Begins Flight Test Program</title>
		<link>http://www.suasnews.com/2011/02/3635/centaur-begins-flight-test-program/</link>
		<comments>http://www.suasnews.com/2011/02/3635/centaur-begins-flight-test-program/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:16:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gary Mortimer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aurora Flight Sciences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centaur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OPV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.suasnews.com/?p=3635</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aurora Flight Sciences announced that the Centaur Optionally Piloted Aircraft (OPA) has begun its flight test program. The first fully-configured Centaur made its first flight on Saturday, January 22, 2011 from Aurora&#8217;s base at Manassas, Virginia. The flight crew for the first flight was Thomas Washington, serving as test director and pilot, and Jason Fine, serving as flight engineer. &#8221;The first flight served mainly to validate that all the hardware and software were working as planned,&#8221; explained Washington. &#8221;Following a careful review of the data, we conducted a second flight on the 24th and a third flight on the 25th, during which all the basic UAV flight modes were turned on and carefully monitored. The initial results look fantastic.&#8221; Centaur will gradually expand its flight envelope over the next several months, leading to fully automatic takeoffs and landings by late spring. Centaur will then be fitted with an electro-optical payload and a high-bandwidth data link to demonstrate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability. All of Centaur&#8217;s test flights are being conducted with the flight crew on board. Fully unmanned flights will begin later this year, at a test range to be announced. Centaur is based on the highly successful Diamond DA42 NG general aviation aircraft. The [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Centaur OPV receives Special Airworthiness Certificate from FAA</title>
		<link>http://www.suasnews.com/2011/01/3406/centaur-opv-receives-special-airworthiness-certificate-from-faa/</link>
		<comments>http://www.suasnews.com/2011/01/3406/centaur-opv-receives-special-airworthiness-certificate-from-faa/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:49:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gary Mortimer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aurora Flight Sciences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centaur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OPV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.suasnews.com/?p=3406</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that its “Centaur” aircraft has received a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA. The Centaur product is being developed as an Optionally-Piloted Aircraft that can safely fly as a FAA-certificated aircraft for operations inside the National Airspace System with the ability to be reconfigured for robotic, unmanned operations when extended performance is needed or when operations are too dangerous for manned aircraft. Centaur is based on the Diamond DA42 general aviation aircraft. The DA42 is a four-place aircraft powered by two diesel engines. “Receipt of the Experimental ticket is a significant step forward for the Centaur program,” said Tom Clancy, Aurora’s Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. “This will allow us to begin the flight test program in the near future.” Development of the Centaur began in 2009. First deliveries are available in 2011. Previous stories:- OPV Optionally Piloted Vehicle http://www.suasnews.com/2009/08/19/opv-optionally-piloted-vehicle/ Aurora Flight Sciences OPV arrives. http://www.suasnews.com/2010/04/805/aurora-flight-sciences-opv-arrives/ OPV DA42 preparing for flight trials. http://www.suasnews.com/2010/02/253/opv-da42-preparing-for-flight-trials/ Bookmark It Hide Sites $$('div.d3406').each( function(e) { e.visualEffect('slide_up',{duration:0.5}) });]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Aurora Flight Sciences OPV arrives.</title>
		<link>http://www.suasnews.com/2010/04/805/aurora-flight-sciences-opv-arrives/</link>
		<comments>http://www.suasnews.com/2010/04/805/aurora-flight-sciences-opv-arrives/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:53:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gary Mortimer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aurora Flight Sciences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[da42]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OPV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.suasnews.com/?p=805</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Slightly bigger than this space should show but an idea to keep an eye on. Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that the DA42M aircraft that will serve as its Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) prototype has arrived at its Manassas, Virginia facility. The DA42M is a 4-place, twin-engine general aviation aircraft produced by Diamond Aircraft in Austria. The aircraft that will become the prototype for Aurora’s OPV was originally used by Diamond as a prototype for the DA42 Multi-Purpose Platform (MPP) development program. Over the past several months, the aircraft has been upgraded with Austro E300 heavy fuel engines. Aurora’s DA42M-OPV, named “Centaur”, adds an extensive suite of propriety electronics and software that retains all of the manned mission capability while also enabling the capability to conduct missions with no pilot onboard. This “optionally piloted” configuration is unique to the Aurora version of the DA42M. “The Centaur has roughly the same payload and range performance as the MQ-1 Predator UAV,” said Aurora President John Langford, “but it has several important advantages. First, it can be flown with a pilot onboard, which will facilitate operation in the National Airspace System. Second, it has two engines, which gives greater reliability and safety. Third, [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>OPV DA42 preparing for flight trials.</title>
		<link>http://www.suasnews.com/2010/02/253/opv-da42-preparing-for-flight-trials/</link>
		<comments>http://www.suasnews.com/2010/02/253/opv-da42-preparing-for-flight-trials/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:14:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gary Mortimer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[da42]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OPV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.suasnews.com/?p=253</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Not small, but OPV&#8217;s are a stepping stone towards sUAS in the NAS, just love using that phrase! MANASSAS, VA &#8212; (Marketwire) &#8212; 02/17/10 &#8212; Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that the DA42M aircraft that will serve as its Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) prototype has arrived at its Manassas, Virginia facility. The DA42M is a 4-place, twin-engine general aviation aircraft produced by Diamond Aircraft in Austria. The aircraft that will become the prototype for Aurora&#8217;s OPV was originally used by Diamond as a prototype for the DA42 Multi-Purpose Platform (MPP) development program. Over the past several months, the aircraft has been upgraded with Austro E300 heavy fuel engines. Aurora&#8217;s DA42M-OPV, named &#8220;Centaur&#8221;, adds an extensive suite of propriety electronics and software that retains all of the manned mission capability while also enabling the capability to conduct missions with no pilot onboard. This &#8220;optionally piloted&#8221; configuration is unique to the Aurora version of the DA42M. &#8220;The Centaur has roughly the same payload and range performance as the MQ-1 Predator UAV,&#8221; said Aurora President John Langford, &#8220;but it has several important advantages. First, it can be flown with a pilot onboard, which will facilitate operation in the National Airspace System. Second, it [...]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>OPV Optionally Piloted Vehicle</title>
		<link>http://www.suasnews.com/2009/08/19/opv-optionally-piloted-vehicle/</link>
		<comments>http://www.suasnews.com/2009/08/19/opv-optionally-piloted-vehicle/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:40:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gary Mortimer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Americas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[da42]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OPV]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.suasnews.com/2009/08/19/opv-optionally-piloted-vehicle/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Not a day seems to go by without a new abbreviation in the UAV world. This one although not strictly connected with small unmanned aerial systems has caught my eye. For a couple of months now it has been known that the Diamond DA42 a four place twin engined businessman&#8217;s modern transport of choice was being converted for UAV use. But perhaps what was not considered was that a couple of seats might be left in! With two crew on board the Diamond can operate for upto 17 hours, once you take them out the duration increases to 26 hours. It makes perfect sense to use an advanced aircraft made from composites and certified around the world as an airframe into which to integrate UAV autopilot systems. A key benefit of keeping the man in the machine is that whilst ferrying the aircraft and operating in national airspace the pilot can do all the radio work and make the aircraft legal within the current framework of NAS useage. The ground station for the DA42M has been designed to fit in the cargo space, so it must be the first UAS that can deploy itself and operator to points of interest. [...]]]></description>
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