Media Platforms Design Team1. EngineThe turbocharged Lycoming TE0-540E is mounted high to allow ground clearance for the pusher propeller and belly-mounted sensors.2. Payload BayFirebirds are built with high-definition video and infrared sensors to track targets, eavesdrop on enemy communications, and serve as a communications relay for friendly troops. The payload bay can be configured for many missions, saving money by serving as a multipurpose platform.3. CockpitWith two pilots in the cockpit, the Firebird can operate in airspace shared by commercial airplanes; while unmanned, the craft is suited for long-endurance missions. To fly out of sight of ground controllers, crews remove the canopy and cockpit navigation system and add a satellite antenna.4. WingsThe forward-swept wings are designed to assist loitering up to 40 hours. The Pentagon’s current ISR aircraft don’t have equal endurance. Sensor pods or precision weapons can be affixed to hard points on the wings.Aircraft SpecsLength: 35.5 feet // Wingspan: 72.2 feet // Altitude: up to 32,000 feet // Top speed: 200 knots // Payload capacity: 1240 poundsJoe PappalardoJoe Pappalardo is a contributing writer at Popular Mechanics and author of the new book, Spaceport Earth: The Reinvention of Spaceflight.
