by Bill Carey
An extended-range variant of the Predator C Avenger remotely piloted aircraft made its first flight in October, manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) announced on November 10. The jet-powered aircraft now has 20 hours of endurance.
The maiden flight of the Avenger ER took place on October 27 at the company’s Gray Butte flight operations facility in Palmdale, Calif., GA-ASI said November 10. The manufacturer did not disclose specifics of the aircraft’s performance or the duration of the flight.
Powered by a Pratt & Whitney PW545B turbofan engine with a top-mounted engine inlet, the Predator C first flew in April 2009. Its fuselage was extended by four feet (to 44 feet) in 2012 to accommodate larger payloads and more fuel. Earlier this year, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration granted GA-ASI an experimental certificate that allows it to fly the Avenger in the National Airspace System.
Read the full story at AINonline