Posted on 02/21/2010 11:58:19 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
TEL NOF AIR FORCE BASE, Israel — Israel's air force on Sunday introduced a fleet of huge pilotless planes that can remain in the air for a full day and fly as far as the Persian Gulf, putting rival Iran within its range.
The Heron TP drones have a wingspan of 86 feet (26 meters), making them the size of Boeing 737 passenger jets and the largest unmanned aircraft in Israel's military. The planes can fly at least 20 consecutive hours and are primarily used for surveillance and carrying diverse payloads.
At the fleet's inauguration ceremony at a sprawling air base in central Israel, the drone dwarfed an F-15 fighter jet parked beside it. The unmanned plane resembles its predecessor, the Heron, but can fly higher, reaching an altitude of more than 40,000 feet (12,000 meters), and remain in the air longer.
"With the inauguration of the Heron TP, we are realizing the air force's dream," said Brig. Gen. Amikam Norkin, head of the base that will operate the drones. "The Heron TP is a technological and operational breakthrough."
Israeli officials refused to say how large the new fleet is or whether the planes were designed for use against Iran, but stressed it was versatile and could adapt to new missions.(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at dailypress.com ...
>> wingspan of 86 feet (26 meters), making them the size of Boeing 737 passenger jets
I haven’t been near one in a long time but the 737 has to be bigger than that, no?
>>>I haven’t been near one in a long time but the 737 has to be bigger than that, no?<<<
I used to the fly them all the time out to Bethel, in western Alaska. They seated four across - like a little baby jetliner. Out here, the front part of the plane was converted to cargo.
>>>carrying diverse payloads<<<
LMAO
Already posted.
Does that mean it’ll carry Black people?
I haven’t been near one in a long time but the 737 has to be bigger than that, no?
Yes it is. If you are measuring the “size” of the aircraft by wingspan only, then the Israeli drone is narrower by some 10 feet compared to the 737-300-400. It is ~25 ft narrower compared to the 600-800 series. I would be surprised if the max operating weight of the drone matches the 737 series which can reach 150,000 in the 400 series.
They are very different aircraft so comparisons are useful, but not much. Of course a 737 cannot stay aloft for 20 hours either. One has a propjet engine, one has two fairly large high-bypass turbofans. Apples and oranges, but still aircraft.
>and carrying diverse payloads.
Like nukes?
A similar story on the same subject from a different source doesn’t count as a duplicate here.
That's for Israel to know and Islam to find out...
>>>Does that mean it’ll carry Black people?<<<
That depends on the number of African-Americans in the population where the drone is launched. There must also be gender equity in the launch crew, and those making less than 200 percent of the average income in your locality are given a brown bag lunch made according to USDA health pyramid guidelines not to exceed 1300 calories per bag.
And what do you have against gay, transgenders, Hispanics and Asians, anyway?
LOL
Essentially this is an unmanned turboprop bomber.
And Iran thought Israel was just going to sit there and get obliterated. (Hee hee heeeeee!)
Don't be so narrow minded. It'll seat gays too.
I wonder how much weight this thing can carry and how far it will go with a heavy payload.
isn’t it possible to use the plane in kamikaze-style suicide attack, ie crash it to the nuke site (assuming it is easier than launching a missile and getting the plane back without getting shot down)..
Oh, okay. Thanks!
******Essentially this is an unmanned turboprop bomber.******
Does that mean it only carries women?
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