Aurora Flight Services first DA42 MPP New Generati

23 February 2010, 12:29am

Aurora Flight Sciences, headquartered in Manassas, VA USA, has placed a fleet sales order for several fully equipped DA42 New Generation “Guardians” to support a new business initiative for Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) “power-by-the-hour” flight services in support of military customers and civil/commercial mapping services the USA

The new generation of DA42 MPP (Multi Purpose Platform) will be used by Aurora as a basis for developing an Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV). A DA42 MPP-OPV can be operated manned as well as unmanned, which enables completely new fields of application for the customer. In its manned modus, it can be used as a normal EASA/FAA certified DA42 MPP, ideal for various missions: monitoring of high-value facilities, surveillance of special events, coastal patrol, environmental enforcement and law enforcement. Especially in cases where its too dangerous for pilots or in cases where extended performance is needed, the manned DA42 MPP-OPV can be flown to the place of action and converted to the unmanned modus.

“Performance of the basic DA42 MPP is impressive”, said Aurora President John Langford. “With two people it has an endurance of 17 hours. With pilots removed in the OPV configuration, performance is even better. With 400 pounds of payload, the DA42 MPP-OPV will have an endurance of 26 hours or a range of 3000 nm. Its turbocharged engines, in the manned modus, are certified for operations up to 18,000 feet and have been tested at altitudes up to 30,000 feet.”

The first MPP New Generation was ferried within three days, 25,5 hrs flight time over a distance of 4.100 nm by Martin Scherrer, Diamond Airborne Sensing’s Chief Pilot and Richard Filbey, Aurora’s Director of Facilities, from Austria to Virginia (USA). The DA42 MPP-OPV will be available at the end of 2010 and several interested parties already announced purchase plans.

Diamond Airborne Sensing GmbH

Geo: International