Air International 2015-12
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H.-P.Grolleau - Harfangs & Reapers over Africa /Military/
All French Air Force UAVs are operated by Escadron de Drones 1/33 ‘Belfort’. While the Harfang is powered by a Rotax piston engine, the Reaper is fitted with a turbine.
The Reaper is fitted with a very basic yet effective retractable landing gear and small cameras in the nose for all taking off, landing and taxiing operations.
All Reaper missions are controlled from a well-hidden air-conditioned shelter.
The Reaper is fitted with a very basic yet effective retractable landing gear and small cameras in the nose for all taking off, landing and taxiing operations.
One of the three French Reapers photographed outside its maintenance hangar at Niamey.
A French Reaper is manhandled into its hangar by a team of US contractors at the end of a sortie from Niamey.
The Harfang is a tight fit in its hangar and great care is needed when manhandling it.
The Harfang control station is housed in air-transportable shelters.
Ease of maintenance was taken into account early in the Harfang development programme.