Comments on: Airborne infrared cameras http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=606 AOPA's Helicopter Blog Tue, 21 May 2013 12:38:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Jim Borger http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=606#comment-1511 Jim Borger Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:21:04 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=606#comment-1511 $15,000 will get you your own system that requires no cooling, suitable for any airplane or helicopter. Of course, it isn’t the same quality as the one in this blog but it does the job.

]]> By: Alex Kovnat http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=606#comment-1510 Alex Kovnat Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:31:33 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=606#comment-1510 Given that helium is a not-unlimited resource, I hope the newer generations of infrared sensors do not require liquid helium.

]]> By: Les Sharpe http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=606#comment-1509 Les Sharpe Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:07:53 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/helicopter/?p=606#comment-1509 Nothing new to me. I worked on first generation FLIR with laser ranging on the A6-E Intruder in 1978-79. A6-E TRAM (Target Recognition and Attack Multi-Sensor), It was equipped with the Hughes Aerospace DRS (Detection and Ranging Set). The DRS is what made TRAM special. The ‘ball’ under the nose. Primary on the device was the super-cooled (liquid helium) germanium detector for IR. A separate laser and bore-sighted detector for ranging, and a separator laser detector programmed to detect laser ‘spots’ on the ground for FAC (Forward Air Control) targeting. Bottom line? The CEP (Circular Proximity Error) for the A-6 went from 50′ to less than 10′. We could put a 500 lb. LGB (Laser Guided Bomb) through your bedroom window. Sweet dreams!

It looked like new technology in the Iraq war. Not! I helped work out the bugs in the 70s. No regrets.

US Navy – AQ5

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