picture 180088

Submitted by aua on
field_i_picture
field_in_sequence
10
field_in_sequence2
1
field_t_remark

The final project involving the IrAF prior to the US-led invasion of 2003, envisaged the conversion of Aero L-29 Delfin two-seat jet trainers into remotely piloted aircraft. Initiated in 1997 at the Ibn Firnas Centre by a team led by Dr. Mahmoud Modhaffer, this effort included the installation of a control system taken from the Italian-made Mirach-100 target-UAV, an autopilot and four cameras. The first test flight was undertaken on 13 April 1997, but was not successful; the second was more fruitful, but in August of the same year the modified L-29 crashed 60–70km southeast of Mutasim AB. Further development was interrupted by Operation Desert Fox in December 1998 and then cancelled after another crash in spring 2001. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)

field_t_subtype
profile left
fr_quality
No votes yet