Record-Breaking Drone Flight Captures the Fury of Hurricane Melissa
Video footage captured from the record-setting flight showcased the strength of Melissa when it was just a tropical storm. Launched from the NOAA WP-3D Hurricane Hunter Aircraft “Kermit”, the Black Swift S0 drone flew for 119 minutes, sampling the heart of the growing storm.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hurricane Hunters employed a state-of-the-art drone to gather critical data on Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane that tied the record for the strongest landfalling Atlantic hurricane on record when it slammed western Jamaica on October 28.
Achieving a New Record in Drone Flight
The Black Swift S0-AD Series Drone, an uncrewed aircraft system, set a record with a nearly two-hour flight at low altitude, including extended flight legs just 30-feet above the Atlantic Ocean, all while Melissa was barreling forward. This remarkable achievement demonstrates the drone’s capabilities in extreme weather conditions.
The record-setting drone is engineered specifically for deployment from crewed platforms into the lower boundary layer of tropical cyclones, like Melissa, in conditions far too dangerous for or accessible for more traditional methods. Black Swift Technologies created an animated rendition of the drone’s shaky ride through the raging storm.
Gathering Critical Data in Extreme Conditions
Functioning as a glider, the drone weighs just 2.75 lbs with a 54.6” wing span, and is equipped with a long-range communications system, sensors that determine wave height and surface temperatures, and an atmospheric probe that measures pressure, temperature, and humidity. The low-flying drone specialized for the lower boundaries gathers essential data for researchers where it matters.
Launched from the NOAA WP-3D Hurricane Hunter Aircraft “Kermit”, a Black Swift S0 drone flew for two hours at low altitude, setting a new record.
(NOAA / NOAA)
The interface between the ocean surface and the atmosphere is the hotbed where tropical storms draw energy and change intensity. Real-time calculations of wind, pressure, temperature, and humidity inform forecast models and help NOAA and other agencies deliver better warnings, which in turn protect lives and maritime operations in the Caribbean, Atlantic shipping lanes, and the coastal US. Learn more about the record-breaking drone flight and its significance in understanding powerful hurricanes Here
Image Source: www.foxweather.com
