Dryden Home > Collections > Photo Home > Ikhana > Photo # ED07-0138-13 |
After arriving via a ferry flight on June 23, 2007, NASA's Ikhana aircraft is towed to a hangar at its new home, the Dryden Flight Research Center. |
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Photo Number: | ED07-0138-13 |
Photo Date: | June 23, 2007 |
Formats: |
640x603 JPEG Image (188 KBytes) 1280x1206 JPEG Image (547 KBytes) 3000x2827 JPEG Image (2509 KBytes) |
Photo Description: |
After arriving via a ferry flight on June 23, 2007, NASA's Ikhana unmanned science demonstration aircraft is towed to a hangar at its new home, the Dryden Flight Research Center in Southern California. |
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 |
Dryden Home > Collections > Photo Home > Ikhana > Photo # ED07-0138-13 |
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Last Modified: October 25, 2007 |