Silvertone Flamingo News ............................................Last Updated 19/8/2012

 
 

NOTRE DAME FLAMINGO F-18 MAIDEN FLIGHT

On July 3rd 2012, Flamingo F-18 took to the air for her maiden USA flight from Elkhart Airport, Indiana. Beautifully flown by pilot Brandon Herzog, a professional jet pilot and a UAV buff, F-18 completed what could only be described as a textbook first flight. The take-off which was held down until a very safe flying speed was achieved, was immaculate. After a very effective work-out during the flight, F-18 was wheeled in for a perfect landing to the applause of the assembled audience.

The Notre Dame Materhorn Project is by far the most ambitious and complex of the many projects in which Flamingos have been involved. Be sure to follow the project on the link below:

Click here to visit the Materhorn Web Page

Silvertone Flamingo F-18 on final approach after a textbook maiden flight in the USA. Note the flaps extended for landing.

FLAMINGO GOES TO SCHOOL

After months of painstaking preparations involving industry consultation and representation, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) on Monday, 20th June 2011 commenced what they believe to be the world's first UAS ab initio training course at Archerfield Airport, Brisbane Queensland. Intended to put through a select group of students to Level 1 UAS Controllers certification in a two week period, the course has proven to be intense indeed. However all in attendance agree that it is a very interesting course and all are enjoying themselves immensely as well as learning volumes. With a good mix of practical and theory the classroom fatigue factor has been reduced to very satisfactory levels. It is hoped that this course will provide the model for subsequent courses and also provide a cadre of trained UAS instructors as well.

This course is the introduction level to UAS flying - Level 1 - below 400'; Visual Line of Sight (VLOS);  Hours of daylight (HJ); Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC);  Outside Controlled Airspace (OCTA); greater than 3 nautical miles (nm) from an aerodrome; and  not over a populous area.

Phil Presgrave, CASA UAS Specialist, Flying Standards Branch (left,) Rhonda Ritchings GM AAA and Peggy MacTavish, Executive Director, AUVS-Australia opening the procedings.

The 10 students and CASA Instructor Mal Wardrop, rear

Phil Presgrave addressing the group. Note the Silvertone Piper Cub UAV demonstrator to his left.

Paul Dewar General manager and Chief Flight Instructor of Cyber Technology Australia. Paul is playing a prominent part in the course delivering lectures on many key topics..

Peter Hill Vtol about to launch one of their Delta Trainers during the flight training session. Anthony Banks on the Transmitter.

Paul Dewar, Mark Lewis, Nick White and Andrew Carruthers standing around looking useful at yesterday's flight training sessions

Mark D'Alterio under instruction from Colin Felmingham - VTOL. The instructors worked hard and did an excellent job in the limited time available. The students, some who had never flown before, are well on their way to their CASA UAS wings.

The Control Van from which all flying was co-ordinated with Archerfield Tower. As can be imagined discipline was strict and all flying tightly controlled. Note the use of dual control instruction.

Those who are playing prominent roles

  • Rhonda Richings - CEO Airline Academy of Australia - for air experience flying and facility access
  • Kim Jones (CASA) - Examinations Manager
  • Paul Dewar - Senior (UAS) Flying Instructor for Cyber Technology WA
  • Peter Hill - Logistics Manager (VTOL QLD)
  • Mark Xavier - Chief (UAS) Pilot - for instrument purposes for CASA approvals
Ground instructional staff:
  • Kim Jones (CASA)
  • Paul Dewar (Cyber Technology)
  • Mal Wardrop (CASA)
  • Bruno Bucetti (VTOL/QAC)
  • Barry Peters (CASA)
  • Jim Perry (CASA)
  • Bob Young - Silvertone
UAS (flying) instructors for this course:
 
  • Paul Dewar - Senior (UAS) Flying Instructor - (Cyber Tech)
  • Mark Lewis - UAS Pacific
  • Anthony Banks - VTOL
  • Colin Felmingham - VTOL
  • Bob Young - Silvertone

The students were chosen via a lottery and divided into three categories.

CAT 1    Students who have had UAS or radio control experience
Mark D'Alterio  
Brett White  
Brian Moreau  
Nick Smith    
CAT 2   Students who had had no aviation, UAS or radio control experience;
Ashray Doshi  
Darren Wilkinson  
Liam Quiqley  
Nick White   
CAT 3   Students with prior aviation experience, but not UAS or radio control.
Andrew Carruthers  
Scott Percival

                     

                                           A very happy and much relieved group after the successful outcome of the course

The course was completed successfully with all students passing the written exam. 
The students with flying experience were signed off on their practical flying with all of the less experienced students well on their way to being signed off as well.
All students qualified for and were signed off on their Radio Telephony certificate. There only remains an assignment to be submitted to CASA by mid July.
All in all the course was a resounding success with many lessons being learned along the way. 
There will now ensue a period of review and examination and it is hoped that this course will provide the model for all future courses of this type. 
Many people and companies have given freely of their time and equipment to ensure the success of this course and their efforts are much appreciated.
Full thanks to the Airline Academy for the provision of classroom facilities and their conduct of an air experience flight for each of the students without aviation experience. 
Simulator flying was made possible with equipment supplied by VTOL. 
UAS flight training was conducted with aircraft and instructors supplied by VTOL and Cyber Technology.  
Silvertone is proud to have been chosen to play a part in this historic event, providing an Instructor and demonstration aircraft (Flamingo and Piper Cub) 
However the most resounding cheers definately go to CASA for pushing through such a far reaching and groundbreaking event. Well done CASA!

AVALON AIRSHOW 2011

Flamingo F-08 (Carla) our hardest working Flamingo was on display at the ARCAA stand during the 2011 Avalon Air Show. Carla is still in excellent condition, a fact that speaks highly of the of the skill of the flight and maintainance crews looking after her. A very impressive element on the ARCAA stand was the Command and Control vehicle fitted with a retractable viewing and control module. The photo below shows Bob Young with Carla, their first reunion since F-08 was delivered to Queensland in 2008.

The quest for lighter stronger Flamingo wings goes on as part of our product improvement and quality control program. The wing panel below was undergoing the standard Silvertone stress test and when pictured was supporting 77.3kg (170lb). This is our lightest and strongest fibreglass wing panel yet. Note the lack of any serious deflection or wing bending at this load. Testing is continuing and the results will be displayed on this page when available.

The following photo sequence shows an interesting comparison regarding the change in Silvertone UAV design between 1974 and 2011. Photo below is titled "Silvertone Air Force circ 1974" A line-up of Silvertone Weightlifters, Grandfather of the Silvertone Flamingo.

"Silvertone Airforce 2011". Below is another view of the Flamingo line-up posed on the shores of Botany Bay. March 2011. Quite a difference in design philosphy and construction. Flamingos are a high aerodynamic efficiency airframe constructed of epoxy, e-glass and carbon fibre. Weightlifters were constructed of chopped mat, polyester fibreglass, balsa and foam.

The photo below tickled our fancy and we call it Feeding time at the Zoo. It looks like a Flock of Flamingos lining up to be fed after a hard day's work on the shores of Botany Bay.

Shown below is Flamingo F-08, the hard working Carla which belongs to Queensland University of Technology. Carla has been hard at work on the Smart Skies Project and recently took part in the successful Dynamic Sense-and-Act Trials aimed at demonstrating collision avoidance and involving 8 elements including full size fixed wing aircraft as well as fixed and rotary wing UAVs. The full story may be found at http://www.smartskies.com.au/news/index.jsp#DSA_Collection. After the trials Carla was then tested for thermaling ability. The motor was switched off and Carla soared with no power for over 30 minutes demonstrating quite effectively the aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft. However for those who tend to think of the Flamingo as merely a powered glider then perhaps watching this video may drive home the fact that there is much more to the Flamingo than that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brLQDf2S_oM&feature=related

The maximum speed on that pass was 153mph.

 

  
     
 

Flamingo F-14

  
 
Shown below is our new Flamingo Mark 4 (F-14). Featuring twin Booms in order to accommodate larger propellers and thus larger motors, this development is being keenly watched by several customers. The new drop-off undercarriage will be fitted to this aircraft during the test flying programs.
  
 
 
 

F-14 Twin Boom Prototype on display for the first time.
  
 
 
 
Flamingo F-12
  
 
Flamingo F-12 has been designated as Silvertone's most recent demonstrator. This aircraft is to be used to test fly several new airframe developments including a drop-off undercarriage dolly as well as a new motor. F-12 is also fitted with navigation lights and Strobe.
As can be seen by the above, the Silvertone Flamingo UAV has made great strides in recent months and we look forward to many more successes in the coming years.
  
 
 
     
     
     
     
 
 
 

Production bolt on pannier fitted to the F-10 and F-11. Allows rapid change of mission payload.
  
 
 
 
 
 

Silvertone was kindly invited by Cybertech WA to display a Flamingo on the Cybertech stand at the recent Avalon Air show. This was the first appearance of a Flamingo at an International Air show and we wish to extend our thanks to Chris Mounkley of  Cybertech for making such a splendid opportunity possible. Cybertech has chosen to use the Flamingo as the basic training component in the Cybertech UAV package. Under this marketing arrangement when supplied as part of the Cyber-Pac, the Flamingo will be known as the Cyber-Lite.


Flamingo F-09


Silvertone has supplied the first Flamingo (Flamingo 09) to Cybertech WA and the first Cyber-Pac has been supplied to the Royal Thai Air-force. The Flamingo is ideal for the UAV training role with its excellent handling characteristics, large flaps, low landing speed, versatility and wide speed envelope.

Flamingo F-10 and F-11

A second Air-force has now signed up. We are very proud to announce that a second overseas Air-force has now signed up for the delivery of two Flamingos (Flamingo 10 and 11) by Mid May 2009. Again we believe to be used in the basic training and evaluation role. There will be more to follow on this announcement at a later date.

 

  
 
 
 

F-10 prior to delivery and awaiting shipment to the USA.
 
 
 
 

F-11 has joined her stable mate F-10 in their new home in the USA and will take to the skies shortly
  
 
 
 

Flamingo F-12 at Avalon

 

  
 

F-12 on the Cyber Technology stand at the Avalon Airshow 2009
  
 
 
 
QUT Flamingo QUAS-08 "Carla"
  
 

Silvertone delivered Flamingo 08 to the Queensland University of Technology in December 2008 and QUT are making good progress on the integration of the autopilot and logging hours under manual and autonomous control. Carla can be seen performing some of her routines at http://www.smartskies.com.au/
Well done to all involved at QUT.

  
 
 
 

Silvertone Flamingo F-08 Carla out and about

 
 
 
 

F-08 ready for delivery December 2008
  
 
 
 
Flamingo F-07
  
 
Pictured below is Flamingo F-07 undergoing payload flight trials in December 2008 on a private airstrip in Queensland.
  
 
 
 

Flamingo F-07. Note Shorter, stiffer undercarriage to handle 8kg payload.
  
 
 
 
Flamingo's at the Challenge
  
 
Here we see Flamingos F-05 and F-06 on display at the Outback Challenge September 2007. Standing in the middle is Dave Jones (Blue Cap) from AUAV in Florida USA. Dave came down under to participate in the Challenge as part of Team Silvertone. Flamingo F-06 returned to the USA with Dave.
  
 
 
 

Flamingo's F-05 and F-06 at the 2007 Outback Challenge, Kingaroy Airport Queensland
  
 
 
 
Flamingo - 04
  
 
The photo below shows Flamingo F-04 on display at the Christchurch New Zealand University in April 2007 during the opening ceromony for the new Geospatial faculty.
  
 
 
 

Flamingo F-04 under the spotlight, Christchurch New Zealand
  
     
     
     
     
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