Orion Industries Model 706 Sea Bat

[Stargazer]

This unmanned air vehicle prototype was designed in 1994 as a reconnaissance drone for the U. S. Navy.

Facts:

• Scaled Composites, Inc. (Burt Rutan's company) manufactured the carbon-fiber airframe in 1995.
• The tandem engine design took off vertically and transitions to horizontal flight.
• The forward engine could be shut down to extend endurance during loiter missions.
• The aircraft entered flight testing in 1995.
• It flew a modular payload with IR and EO sensors.
• It was launched and recovered autonomously with a GPS Navigator.
• The aircraft transitioned to vertical flight to land on the four energy-absorbing struts.
• The Sea Bat used a flight control computer with gyros, accelerometers, GPS, air data and acoustic sensors.
• The Sea Bat was assessed by the U.S. Coast Guard along with other UAV designs to fill IDS mission requirements, but was found to have insufficient payload and range capability to be a viable alternative.
• The Sea Bat program ended in 1997.
• The prototype is on display at the Western Museum of Flight.

Specifications:

• Type: VTOL Aerial Recon
• Wing Span: 10 feet
• Length: 6 feet
• Gross Weight: 200 pounds
• Empty Weight Equipped (with full oil): 115 pounds
• Fuel: 35 pounds
• Payload: 50 pounds
• Power Plant: 2 Alvis AR 731 Single Rotary Engines; Maximum Continuous 60 HP
• Maximum Airspeed (VNE): 180 Knots
• Rate of Climb at Sea Level: 1,500 feet
• Maximum Ceiling: 10,000 feet
• Hover Ceiling IGE @ GW: 4,500 feet
• Hover Ceiling OGE @ GW: 4.250 feet

Some sources:

• http://www.wmof.com/sea bat.html
• https://fr.scribd.com/document/2993...er-Contract-AOA-Aviation-Alternatives-Scoring