1/18 Global Hawk

Post by **aferguson** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 8:56 am

http://www.sonicelectric.com/Merchant2/ ... ct_Count=4

Another r/c. Spot on 1/18 (actually 1/17.6 scale). ....just putting it out there for anyone who might be interested (like me

).

USCGSARdog · Post by **USCGSARdog** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:41 pm

That is very cool....... I had no idea the 'hawk was that large. A 79" wingspan on a 1/18 scale model? Thats what, about 118' on the rael thing.

Are there any better pics of the model anywhere? for $80, I would score one if looks decent enough.

Nice find.

-Rob

Post by **aferguson** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:37 pm

some pics here:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=734934

follow the thread and there will probably be more pics soon..

Post by **aferguson** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:31 am

Yes, the Global Hawk is a surprisingly large aircraft, as can be seen from this picture:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... /800px-RQ-

Threetoughtrucks · Post by **Threetoughtrucks** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:06 am

Parden me for not keeping up on current air events, but what is a Global Hawk?
Drone?
Is it armed?

Maybe I should get my head out of the sand once and a while

TTT

Post by **aferguson** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:20 am

it's a UAV for long range and long loiter time surveillance. 24 hour+ missions. Not armed as yet and not used in great numbers as there have been many teething problems with it. It's like a really big Predator.

While none have been armed to date, they've logged well over 8000 hours of 'combat flying' which means active recon. in Iraq and Afghan. They can send real time images to troops on the ground, look for conveys and follow them once located, help to locate roadside bombs etc. Their super long endurance allows for missions deeper into enemy territory, long loiter and surveillance time of moving ground units of interest etc.

They normally cruise at about 50,000 feet and have a wide variety of sensors. The next generation Global Hawk is now in production and is about 10% larger (wingspan ~135 feet) so it can carry 50% more weight of sensor equipment.

While some feel it can replace manned recon. aircraft like the U-2, most feel that the two compliment each other as each type of aircraft (manned vs. unmanned) has different strengths and weaknesses.