Page 2 - Aerotech News and Review, October 15, 2021

VANILLA, from 1

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Air Force photograph by Josh McClanahan site at www.aerotechnews.com
A Vanilla unmanned aircraft system launches from the Rogers Dry Lakebed on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 24, 2021. The aircraft broke the Submissions for upcoming events, air
world record for unrefueled, internal combustion endurance of an unmanned aircraft with a total continuous flight time of 8 days, 50 minutes, and 47 shows and museums
seconds, and 12,200 miles, Oct. 2, 2021. should be emailed to
editor@aerotechnews.com.
Vanilla Unmanned is a prototype aircraft de- commodating smaller and lower cost sensors for ance. This is a tactical asset with strategic rel- For questions concerning the web site,
signed to meet a cost-effective, airborne intelli- the same C5ISR value. Vanilla runs on standard evance,” says Dr. Dan Edwards, Platform Aero- contact the webmaster at
gence, surveillance and reconnaissance demand. Jet-A fuel, easing logistics concerns during for- space chief technology officer. “The notion that webmaster@aerotechnews.com.
The aircraft was created by Platform Aerospace, ward operations.
a small business based out of Hollywood, Md. Vanilla’s airframe can carry up to 150 pounds tactical UAS must be VTOL and fly for less than
Platform Aerospace partnered with the 412th Test of sensor payloads across five internal bays and 24 hours excludes a disruptive technology that Where you can get
Wing’s Emerging Technologies Combined Test external mounts, each receiving onboard power could be fielded today. The value of inexpensive Aerotech News and Review
Force to launch the aircraft from the Rogers Dry and datalink for sensor C2. A VTOL variant is multi-day, multi-sensor coverage is immense.”
Lakebed, Sept. 24. in production with government sponsorship and Platform Aerospace is a service-disabled veter- For information on
The flight has been submitted for ratification an-owned small business dedicated to supporting Aerotech distribution, call
as an official world record. will take flight in early 2022. (661) 945-5634 or visit
“The Emerging Technologies CTF’s purpose is “Vanilla has changed the definition of endur- the warfighter and its customers’ success. www.aerotechnews.com/distribution.
to assist in the development of technologies that
will support future warfighter efforts,” Brooks
said. “As such, we are humbled to have had the Aerotech News and Review is published
opportunity to support this monumental effort on every other Friday, serving the
behalf of the warfighters who will benefit from aerospace and defense industry of
tomorrow’s technology today.” Southern California, Nevada and
Vanilla executed multiple test sorties earlier Arizona. News and ad copy deadline
this year including a prior record flight of five is noon on the Tuesday prior to
days of continuous flight while providing high- publication. The publisher assumes no
definition Electro-Optical/Infrared-Red video and responsibility for error in ads other
command and control over satellite communica- than space used. Your comments are
tion at beyond line-of-sight range. welcomed and encouraged. Write to
“Our goal is to get a low-cost, ultra-long en- the address below.
durance ISR asset to the warfighter that can carry
real mission payloads. The system that flew these
last three days costs less than (DOD) pays for • Publisher ....................Paul Kinison
some ordnance,” said Kurt Parsons, Platform • Business Manager ....... Lisa Kinison
Aerospace CEO. “It’s not just the sticker price • Editor .................... Stuart Ibberson
for this record-setting system, but also a multi- • National Advertising
day flight model with drastically reduced man- Manager .....................Paul Kinison
ning and logistics cost.”
Unlike larger long endurance UAS, Vanilla
is a tactical-scale Group III system that uses an
internal-combustion engine for propulsion. Its Aerotech News and Review
smaller size enables runway independent launch Air Force photograph by Bryce Bennett e-mail: editor@aerotechnews.com
from forward locations with minimal manning. Platform Aerospace personnel prepare a Vanilla unmanned aircraft system for its record-breaking Visit our web site at
Unlike solar-powered high-altitude systems, flight at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 24, 2021. www.aerotechnews.com
Vanilla is immediately responsive to operator
tasking and flies at tactical altitudes, thereby ac-

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