A remotely piloted aircraft research facility is described that will provide new capabilities for atmospheric and oceanographic measurements. The aircraft can fly up to 24 h over remote ocean regions, at low or high altitude, and in various other challenging mission scenarios. The aircraft will fly research missions at speeds of 40 m s−1 and provide high spatial resolution measurements. Data will be transmitted in real time to a ground station for analysis and decision-making purposes. The facility will expand the opportunities for universities to participate in field measurement programs.
*Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia.
+Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.
#California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.
@Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
&Department of Energy, Germantown, Maryland.
