Optionally Piloted Helicopter Recently Received Special Airworthiness Certificate For Testing

The first test flights of the production SA-400 Jackal have been successfully accomplished by Scion UAS at their base in Fort Collins, CO. The first flight comes after extensive flight tests of the prototype helicopter and shortly after receiving a special airworthiness certificate for experimental research and development for the optionally piloted SA-400 helicopter.

The SA-400 Jackal is a turbine powered vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) optionally piloted vehicle (OPV) that can carry a 100 pound  payload with an endurance of over 4 hours. It is capable of automatic launch and recovery from a moving ship at sea. The first two production vehicles will be delivered to the Naval Research Laboratory for use in developing and demonstrating emerging sensor systems.

The FAA authorized the special airworthiness certificate after several years of development of the SA-400 on the part of the company. The first two production vehicles will be delivered to the Naval Research Laboratory for use in developing and demonstrating emerging sensor systems.

Scion UAS manufactures a product family of unmanned helicopter systems that range in size from car-transportable to optionally piloted helicopters. The VTOL UAS provides a simple to use aerial platform that can perform a wide variety of civilian and military applications including mining, agriculture, and aerial surveys.

The SA-400, along with its smaller variant the SA-200, will be on display 13-15 Aug 2013 at the AUVSI Convention at the Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC.

(Image provided by Scion UAS)

FMI: www.scionuas.com