We've gotten into the air! Thankfully, the weather cooperated today听and we ended up with some gorgeous flying weather. Blue skies, calm winds, and no mosquitoes make flight operations a breeze, and were very much appreciated after the past two听days of rain, wind and fog. We managed to get approximately 10 short听flights across 5 planes, but unfortunately,听that was all. An issue with the听autopilot听caused the pitot/static system to become听unresponsive and freeze听displaying the last recorded听airspeed.听Typically, this was accompanied with a descending spiral with increasing throttle听as the autopilot attempted听to maintain the commanded airspeed. This, by itself, is enough to force us to听fly听the aircraft exclusively听where听human pilots can see it well enough to fly it听out of danger,听but very often听the听pitot error was accompanied by a complete and total loss of control,听both through the groundstation and听RC override. This does not result in a very pretty arrival with the ground, and unluckily, it had to happen more than once to show that it was a problem present on all craft. At one point, only 2 out of a total of 7 aircraft remained airworthy, but because of its听superior design and construction,听the DataHawk is听frightfully tough.听Thanks to that, we'll be starting tomorrow with 5 of 7 operational, and听the prognosis听good for the other two.听
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As for the autopilot issues: we have the very best听SUAS听minds this side of the Brooks Range working deep into the night听in hot pursuit of the听problem. Besides, what fun is it without a good challenge?
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听There's a bear in the air!
听Nate piloting the DataHawk
听Gijs watching the DataHawk fly over