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NASA Meatball Ikhana Photo Collection banner
 
Ikhana

NASA's Ikhana unmanned science demonstration aircraft on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base after its ferry flight to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center.

 
Photo Number: ED07-0138-04
Photo Date: June 23, 2007
 
Formats: 640x575 JPEG Image (172 KBytes)
1280x1149 JPEG Image (508 KBytes)
3000x2694 JPEG Image (2253 KBytes)
 
Photo
Description:
NASA's Ikhana unmanned science demonstration aircraft, a civil variant of General Atomics' Predator B, on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base after its ferry flight to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. NASA took possession of the new aircraft in November, 2006, and it arrived at the NASA center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on June 23, 2007.
 
Project
Description:
A Predator B unmanned aircraft system has joined the inventory of research aircraft at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. Built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. of San Diego, NASA took possession of the new aircraft in November, 2006, and it arrived at the NASA center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on June 23, 2007. The aircraft has been given the Choctaw Nation name "Ikhana" (pronounced ee-kah-nah), which means intelligent, conscious or aware.

Designed for long-endurance, high-altitude flight, Ikhana will be flown primarily on Earth science missions under the Earth Science Capability Demonstrations project at NASA Dryden. It will also be used for advanced aircraft systems research and technology development.

As part of the Ikhana/Predator B acquisition, NASA also purchased a ground control station and satellite communication system for control of the aircraft and transmittal of research data. The ground control station is in a mobile trailer and, in addition to the pilot's "cockpit," includes computer workstations for scientists and engineers. All of the aircraft systems are mobile, making Ikhana ideal for remote studies.

The aircraft has a wingspan of 66 feet and is 36 feet long. More than 400 pounds of sensors can be carried internally and over 2,000 pounds in external wing pods. Ikhana is powered by a Honeywell TPE 331-10T turbine engine and is capable of reaching altitudes well above 40,000 feet. This aircraft is the first production Predator B equipped with an upgraded digital electronic engine controller (DEEC) developed by Honeywell and GA-ASI that will make Ikhana five to 10 percent more fuel efficient.

 
NASA Photo by: Tony Landis
 
Keywords: Ikhana, Predator B unmanned aircraft, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc, long-endurance, high-altitude, Earth Science Capability Demonstrations project, arrival, tow, landing
 


Last Modified: October 25, 2007
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