Page 62 - World Airnews Magazine October Edition 2020

BALLITO IS MY STORY.
THE NORTH COAST IS OUR STORY.
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BRITAIN’S NEW PROTECTOR

DRONE COMPLETES MAIDEN

FLIGHT

By Andrew Chuter

British efforts to introduce a new
family of long-endurance, medium-altitude
drones moved a step closer with an
announcement by the Ministry of Defence
that the first General Atomics Protector RG
Mk1 off the production line had made its
maiden flight.
The MoD said the first production version
of the drone flew in California on Sept. 25.
The flight comes just over two months
after the British announced they had inked t Seeff North Coast, we understand our unique market

a £65 million or (US) $83 million) deal with said in a letter to the Parliamentary public A nuances and offer unmatched local insight, expertise
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to accounts committee published earlier this the inaugural flight of the production drone
supply the first three of an expected fleet year. was a welcome step in development. and service to our clients.
of at least 16 drones. The Protector vehicles will replace “With increased range and endurance,
Three ground control stations and other General Atomics Reaper drones widely greater ISR and weapons capacity and Our offering is further enhanced by being part of a leading

associated support equipment were also used by the Royal Air Force in operations improved weather resilience, Protector will National brand. All our Agents and Administrators undergo
included in the deal. in Afghanistan and the Middle East, play a vital intelligence and deterrent role continuous education and professional development to
The contract contains options for a most recently providing reconnaissance, in countering future threats,” he said. CELIA TABB stay at the forefront of the real estate field.
further 13 air vehicles and supporting surveillance and strike capabilities in the For the moment the first Protector
equipment valued at around £180 million fight against the Islamic State group in Syria will stay in the United States to support 078 988 7727 OUR CORE OFFERING INCLUDES:
or (US) $139 million. and Iraq. systems testing as part of an MoD, US air
A commitment for the additional drones Protector is the British version of General force and General Atomics team. celia.tabb@seeff.com
could come in April next year. Atomics latest Predator variant, the MQ-9B Following completion of the work the • Residential Sales and Letting
Progress with the Protector test schedule Sky Guardian. drone will be delivered to the MoD in the Ballito Sales Expert • Commercial Sales and Letting
follows a two-year delay imposed on the The RAF drone will fly longer and, armed summer of 2021. • Rental Property Management
programme by the MoD in 2017 after the with Brimstone and Paveway IV precision The platform will continue to be based • Developments
British ran into wider defence budget weapons, hit harder than the Reaper. in the United States to allow the RAF to
problems. Crucially, the machine is also in line to be complete its test and evaluation program.
The delay was primarily responsible for approved to fly in non-segregated airspace Operating from its base at RAF So whether you are looking to Buy, Sell or Rent on
a 40 percent hike in Protector programme in places like the UK. Waddington, eastern England, Protector is the North Coast, give us a call and experience the
costs, top MoD official Stephen Lovegrove British defence minister Jeremy Quin said scheduled to enter service by mid-2024. Q Seeff difference.

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FLIGHT TEST PILOT HONOUR

Piper M600 and the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet and flew as test pilot in
hundreds of approaches and fully-automated landings.
Garmin director of flight operations and chief test pilot, Tom These tests were conducted as part of the Federal Aviation
Carr, has received the prestigious Society of Experimental Test Administration (FAA) certification of Garmin Autoland, which was
Pilots’ (SETP) 2020 Iven C. Kincheloe Award for his outstanding achieved on May 18 this year. The award-winning Autoland system
professional accomplishment in the conduct of flight testing. has since received FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency
SETP presented the award to Carr recently during a virtual (EASA) certification on several additional aircraft types.
awards ceremony that was held in place of its annual gala. The Iven C. Kincheloe Award was established in 1958 in memory
Carr was honoured with the award in recognition of his achieve- of the veteran flight test pilot and US air force Korean war ace.
ments as an experimental test pilot during the industry-first The Kincheloe Award honors test pilots who have made excep-
Garmin Autoland flight test programme. tional contributions to an aerospace programme and is the most NORTH COAST
He has flown Autoland development flights on the Columbia 400, honorable recognition among the society. Q 032 586 0170 | ballito@seeff.com SEEFF SALES OFFICE:
Suite 4, First Floor, New Salt Rock
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