Global Hawk robot spy plane marks its 10th anniversary

Valley Press ^ | Tuesday, March 4, 2008. | Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

[BenLurkin]

EDWARDS AFB - Ten years ago, Edwards Air Force Base witnessed the first flight of the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle. The aircraft flew for one hour at an altitude of 32,000 feet. Since then, the Global Hawk has logged more than 20,000 flight hours, of which 15,000 were flown in support of the global War on Terror.

The high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial reconnaissance system is designed to provide commanders with real-time imagery of large geographic areas. The Global Hawk can reach an altitude of up to 65,000 feet and loiter for more than 30 hours.

The Global Hawk performed its first flight at Edwards because of the Air Force Flight Test Center's proximity to Northrop Grumman's facility and its easy access to restricted airspace.

During its first flight, Tom Bryson, 452nd Flight Test Squadron deputy manager for engineering support, was a safety chase driver. "I had a front-row seat of this amazing aircraft," Bryson said. "I was totally amazed to see its capabilities."

The development of the Global Hawk has been phenomenal in the short amount of time they have had it here, he said.

"The significance of 10 years to this point in time is just amazing, because we went from an unproven UAV to a very successful first flight here," he said.

Though still in the developmental stage, the Global Hawk was deployed in Afghanistan in 2001.

"None of us anticipated Sept. 11, 2001, and during that time, the Global Hawk was at a critical stage in its development," Bryson said. "But the Global Hawk did what it was built to do, and on its first night, it saved several lives."

Lt. Col. Andy Thurling, 452nd Flight Test Squadron commander, said the Global Hawk system is providing vital intelligence.

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[BenLurkin]

Thanks!

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Thanks!

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