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The Silvertone Flamingo UAV Story - Last Updated 14/04/2013 |
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Twin Boom Flamingo F-18 on final after her maiden flight at Elkhart Airport Indiana USA. The flight was perfectly executed by pilot Brandon Herzog, a professional jet pilot and a UAV buff. F-18 is part of the most ambitious and complex project yet undertaken by a Silvertone Flamingo. Be sure to follow the story on the Notre Dame University links shown below.
Flamingo F-18 climbing out of Elkhart during her maiden flight. (photos Notre Dame University). A important point to note is that the Flamingo fits into the new under 25kg class of UAV mandated by the US Congress. Silvertone was founded in 1958 and has since earned the title of Australia's premier Radio Control manufacturer. In addition Silvertone has been involved in the design and construction of RPV/UAV aircraft since 1974, supplying radios, RPVs or UAVs to such entities as The Australian Army, The Australian Weapons Research Establishment (WRE), CSIRO, De Haviland Aircraft, Royal Thai Air Force, USAF, Queensland University of Technology, Continental RPV (USA), Notre Dame University (USA) and various private operators in Australia and the USA. Silvertone's latest UAV, The Flamingo, is suitable for use as a UAV or RPV. The unique features of this aircraft provide the operator with an aircraft that is highly efficient aerodynamically, speedy, very easy to fly and of robust construction. It is in actual fact the ideal UAV ab-initio trainer. Add to these such features as a payload bay with a volume of 1,300cu/in, a quick change nosecone and payload pannier system, a variety of undercarriage and launch options and it is easy to see that this is a very unique UAV indeed. Supplied as an empty airframe as the preferred option in order to hold export costs and delivery time delays to a minimum. In this form the Flamingo has been approved as an airframe free of export controls to approved countries. However the Flamingo can be tailored to suit customers specifications with full avionics and camera fit if required. For the full Flamingo story please read on. |
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Latest Silvertone News + Flamingo F-18 undertakes her first flight in the USA. Click here to see the video of the first flight + Flamingo goes to CASA (Australia) UAV school. See story below. |
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| + Flamingo F-18 now with Notre Dame University USA. ...... Click here to see the story on the Notre Dame website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| + Flamingo is now flying with two International Air Forces. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| + Flamingo F-08 has been flown via the 3G mobile phone network by Queensland University. Read Article | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
+ Flamingo F-09 has successfully flown its 2 hour and 30 km acceptance trial for the Royal Thai Air Force. + Flamingo F-08 part of the successful dynamic sense and avoid trials conducted by AARCA under the Smart Skies Program. + Flamingo F-08 on display at the Avalon 2011 Airshow as part of the QUT (AARCA) display. + Flamingos F-10 and F-11 now in the USA undergoing fit-out and flight trials. + Flamingo F-08 (Carla) on display at the Avalon Air Show 2011 on the ARCAA stand. In an historic move, The United States Congress has recently directed the FAA to begin the integration into US National Airspace of small UAVs. Very small UAS are to be allowed access in as little as 90 days when used by Emergency Services, and models as large as 55 pounds will be granted access in just 27 months. The law sets a deadline of all UAS being integrated into the NAS in just over three years (by Sept. 30, 2015). The Silvertone Flamingo, a small in-production UAV airframe designed for use in the under 20kg class of mini UAVs fits very neatly inside this weight limit with some room to spare. The full Flamingo story is to be found on the following pages.
Flamingo F-18 ND lab. For the full story with more and better quality photos, go to the ND link http://www.nd.edu/~dynamics/materhorn/UAV_Build.html
Silvertone Flamingo F-09 flying under the Cyber-Lite badge pictured with the Royal Thai Air Force UAV team. Cybertech (WA) chief UAV pilot Paul Dewar middle back row. F-09 is fitted with the Spanish UAV Navigation AP04 autopilot. F-09 had just completed the RTAF 2 hour acceptance flight which included a 30km out and return distance test. This is the second International Air Force to commence flying the Flamingo. The RTAF is using the Flamingo in the UAV training role, a role for which it is imminently suited.
Bob Young Silvertone CEO with one of the protoype Flamingos fitted with wheel spats.
Flamingo goes to school. The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA ) in a groundbreaking move early in 2011 conducted what they believe is a world first in UAV training and licensing. For the full story on this International First see Flamingo News under the News tab above.
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Silvertone Air Force 2011. John Haren seated in a row of Silvertone Flamingo UAVs. As the photo above demonstrates so clearly, the Flamingo is a small in-production UAV designed for the under 20kg class of Mini UAVs. John is the Aerodynamist/draughtsman on the Flamingo project.
Silvertone Air Force 1975. Silvertone Weightlifter RPVs awaiting delivery to Weapons Research Establishment, Australian Army, CSIRO and other customers. We have learned much about UAV design and construction since those early days.
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Another view of the Silvertone Flamingo UAV line-up.
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Silvertone Flamingo UAV F-08 (Carla) kitted out for real work. Note the antenna array. This Flamingo belongs to the Queensland University of Technology and is in use in their Smart Skies project as well as a range of other experiments. F-08 is fitted with a Micropilot autopilot. Carla put on an impressive display at the Outback Challenge 2009 when she flew out over the search area while most of the other UAVs present were grounded due to high winds. |
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Silvertone Flamingo F-15 the new twin boom Flamingo. The twin boom layout allows larger propellors hence bigger motors for higher speeds, heavier payloads or high altitude flight. Note the camera installation under the Option A nosecone. Option A nosecones include the pannier style avionics bay. |
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Flamingos F-05 and F-06 just prior to the 2007 Outback Challenge. Note the large span flaps which reduce the landing speed considerably. F-06 now resides in Florida USA and has done some excellent work since..
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Size and Weight 