Adaptive Flight, Inc Announces Long Range Hornet Maxi

Adaptive Flight, Inc has introduced its new Hornet Maxi VTOL UAS. With its gasoline engine, this aircraft was specifically designed for missions requiring long endurance and extended range.

The Hornet Maxi is capable of carrying 15 pounds of payload, for up to 2.5 hours, while providing stable digital imagery to operators at ranges up to 100 miles. The Hornet Maxi is very cost-effective, offering one man operation, 3 day training, small system footprint, and a low overall operating cost. A baseline configuration has a price starting at $135,000.

“The Hornet Maxi has excellent speed, stability, and control. It offers operators an extremely well rounded system able to complete any mission requiring VTOL capabilities,” says William Robinson, AFI’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

Using the unique capabilities of AFI’s flight control system, the Hornet Maxi has the ability to perform in adverse operational situations and handle a wide range of weather conditions. “The Hornet Maxi was designed and built with versatility in mind. With superior flight characteristics, multiple options for on-vehicle payload connectivity, the ability to operate in GPS-denied environments, and the capability to distribute live-video anywhere in the world with a simple internet connection, the platform has the flexibility needed for today’s rapidly evolving operating environments,” says Nate Adam, AFI’s Product Manager for the Hornet Maxi.

The Hornet Maxi offers flexible alternatives for connecting to customer payloads, including video, serial and ethernet. Using the internet, AFI’s IP network based systems allows customers to easily distribute vehicle based transmissions anywhere in the world.

HORNET MAXI Gasoline Specifications:

Physical:
DRY WEIGHT: 20 lbs. (9 kg)
PAYLOAD/FUEL WEIGHT: up to 15 lbs. (6.8 kg)
HEIGHT: 20’’ (51 cm)
WIDTH: 18” (46 cm)
LENGTH: 58’’ (147 cm)
ENGINE: 30.5 cc internal combustion engine

Performance:
SPEED: 40 MPH (64 km/h)
RANGE: Up to 100 miles (161 km)
ALTITUDE: Up to 10,000 ft MSL

Technical:
DATA/VIDEO LINK: Secure digital mesh Wi-Fi network radio
PAYLOAD: Multiple EO/IR cameras, gimbal based systems, scientific sensor packages, universal I/O for custom payload integration

Cost:
HORNET MAXI: $135,000 (Includes basic aircraft with FCS20 advanced flight control system, Fixed Forward Looking Operator Camera, Pelican-based Ground Control Station with Panasonic Toughbook, Operator and Simulator Software, Persistent System’s Encrypted Mesh Ground Wave Relay Radio and 3 day Hornet training class). Payload options are available separately.

The gasoline powered Hornet Maxi is an evolution of AFI’s electric Hornet Maxi. The electric Maxi has been in use for several years, has consistently proven its reliability, and has provided customers with quality ISR data. With the introduction of the newest Hornet Maxi, Adaptive Flight will continue to lead the industry with its family of unmanned helicopter solutions.

Source: Press Release