CAP Talk

Operations => Aviation & Flying Activities => Topic started by: Frenchie on May 21, 2008, 04:11:21 AM

Title: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: Frenchie on May 21, 2008, 04:11:21 AM
Has anyone ever seen one of these?

(http://www.sacusa.com/Images/SA_2-37B/sa2.jpg)
http://www.sacusa.com/products/samain2.asp (http://www.sacusa.com/products/samain2.asp)

Apparently the FBI is using them.
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: isuhawkeye on May 21, 2008, 12:10:11 PM
http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/rg-8.htm (http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/rg-8.htm)
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: ♠SARKID♠ on May 21, 2008, 04:16:42 PM
It looks sweet!  Have to keep an eye out at EAA this year.
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: Ricochet13 on May 21, 2008, 05:43:05 PM
(http://www.sacusa.com/Images/Firescout/Firescout.jpg)
(http://www.sacusa.com/Images/RU-38B/38b.jpg)

These looked pretty interesting too!

Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: Turk on May 21, 2008, 05:55:21 PM
Any idea who makes it?
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: sarflyer on May 21, 2008, 05:58:24 PM
Northrup Grumman makes the firescout
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: sarflyer on May 21, 2008, 05:59:27 PM
And the RU38B is made by Schweizer Aircraft
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: Frenchie on May 21, 2008, 06:25:16 PM
Quote from: sarflyer on May 21, 2008, 05:59:27 PM
And the RU38B is made by Schweizer Aircraft

The FBI also has at least one SA 2-38B (which may be the same thing as the RU38B from what I can tell).  It's listed as an experimental in the FAA registry.
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: Hawk200 on May 21, 2008, 11:16:26 PM
Quote from: ♠SARKID♠ on May 21, 2008, 04:16:42 PM
It looks sweet!  Have to keep an eye out at EAA this year.

I would doubt that you will see aircraft like that at Oshkosh. It's not exactly an aircraft that the people flying them want everyone to be seeing at an airshow.
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: flyerthom on May 27, 2008, 05:52:53 PM
Quote from: sarflyer on May 21, 2008, 05:59:27 PM
And the RU38B is made by Schweizer Aircraft

So the first one is a motorglider?
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: 0 on May 27, 2008, 05:54:39 PM
Quote from: Frenchie on May 21, 2008, 04:11:21 AM
Has anyone ever seen one of these?

(http://www.sacusa.com/Images/SA_2-37B/sa2.jpg)
http://www.sacusa.com/products/samain2.asp (http://www.sacusa.com/products/samain2.asp)

Apparently the FBI is using them.

I'm not at liberty to discuss the existince of this aircraft.  ;D
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: Frenchie on May 27, 2008, 08:38:33 PM
Quote from: flyerthom on May 27, 2008, 05:52:53 PM
Quote from: sarflyer on May 21, 2008, 05:59:27 PM
And the RU38B is made by Schweizer Aircraft

So the first one is a motorglider?

No, it's just made to stay up in the air a very long time.
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: mikeylikey on May 27, 2008, 09:04:34 PM
umm......are these what are spying on the average citizenry these days??    >:D
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: Frenchie on May 27, 2008, 10:54:25 PM
Quote from: mikeylikey on May 27, 2008, 09:04:34 PM
umm......are these what are spying on the average citizenry these days??    >:D

Below average I would like to think.
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: wingnut on May 28, 2008, 05:35:05 AM
The Schweizer SA2-37B aircraft is engineered to perform covert surveillance missions in a manner not possible with any other aircraft. Its sophisticated suite of FLIR, EO, and Electronic Sensors enables activities on the land or sea to be detected and monitored without detection from below. The combination of its low acoustic signature, large payload capacity, long range, long endurance, and low operating costs make the SA2-37B

The SA2-37B has outstanding range/endurance performance. On a maximum endurance mission, it can operate for over twelve hours. Alternatively, it can fly a 200 nmi radius mission and still loiter on station for up to seven hours. With its 24,000 foot service ceiling, it can also perform high-altitude missions such as relay or signal intercept.

12 hours? I think I gotta pee

Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: Frenchie on May 28, 2008, 05:11:26 PM
Quote from: wingnut on May 28, 2008, 05:35:05 AM
12 hours? I think I gotta pee

(http://www.sportys.com/terryc/images/6462l.jpg)

or for the ladies...

(http://www.sportys.com/terryc/images/6471l.jpg)
Title: Re: Surveillance aircraft
Post by: mikeylikey on May 28, 2008, 05:12:39 PM
^  :o