Rise of the Drones – UAVs After 9/11

[Carsten Wiethoff]

How many active squadrons are there?

To partly answer my question: http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Air_Forc...g_999.html

The 432nd wing has six operational squadrons, one maintenance squadron, with six Reapers and 60 Predators. These squadrons are projected to fly 75,000 hours this year, 85 percent being combat operations, said Col. Eric Mathewson, who assumed command of the 432nd Operations Group. The Predator is currently being used in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom for intelligence surveillance reconnaissance and tactical missions, flown by pilots and sensor operators in the United States.

These are 2007 numbers.

[Carsten Wiethoff]

How many active squadrons are there?

To partly answer my question: http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Air_Forc...g_999.html

The 432nd wing has six operational squadrons, one maintenance squadron, with six Reapers and 60 Predators. These squadrons are projected to fly 75,000 hours this year, 85 percent being combat operations, said Col. Eric Mathewson, who assumed command of the 432nd Operations Group. The Predator is currently being used in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom for intelligence surveillance reconnaissance and tactical missions, flown by pilots and sensor operators in the United States.

These are 2007 numbers.

From wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/432nd_Wing

The 432d is the first wing totally dedicated to operating the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, both of which are currently being used in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom for intelligence surveillance reconnaissance and tactical missions, flown by pilots and sensor operators in the United States.[SUP][5][/SUP]
The 432d is authorized 160 Predator and 60 Reapers. As of May 2007, 6 Reapers and about 85 Predators have been delivered with half of the Predators deployed forward in the United States Central Command area of operations. The wing is expected to fly 12 combat air mission in Iraq and Afghanistan each day.[SUP][6][/SUP]

So the great majority of drone killings happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, Pakistan coming third and Yemen fourth. From the number 1626 killed by one squadron we reach about 10000 dead for six squadrons from 2007 to 2011.

[Peter Lemkin]

Obama Nominates Drone "War Criminal" To First Circuit Court

By Sherwood Ross / January 22nd, 2014

David Barron, a Harvard law professor who gave President Obama the green light for his illegal global drone attacks, has been nominated by Obama for a seat on the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals.

"Barron (co-authored) the infamous Justice department opinion authorizing Obama's murder of U.S. citizens," says distinguished international legal authority Francis Boyle of the University of Illinois, Champaign. "It's a payback."
"This is a total disgrace. If approved, we will have a murderer and a war criminal sitting on the U.S. First Circuit," Boyle said. The First District, headquartered in Boston, Mass., includes the states of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island as well as Puerto Rico.
As a result of Barron's opinion, Boyle says, "We know that at least three U.S. citizens were murdered in Yemen, including (Islamic cleric Anwar) Awlaki of Las Cruces, N.M., and his 16-year-old son Abdulrahman al-Awlaki," of Denver, Co., and one other. Still another American citizen was also executed without trial in Pakistan, Boyle said.
Barron co-wrote the June, 2010, legal opinion rationalizing the illegal airstrikes as a member of Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. He was joined by Martin Lederman, a deputy assistant Attorney General in that office.
"So here Barron and Lederman deliberately and maliciously write a get out of jail free card for Obama so that he can murder U.S. citizens, which he does," Boyle says. "Barron is thus an enabler and accessory before the fact to murder and war crimes" and thus a principal in the first degree with Obama. Accordingly, Boyle says, "Barron is neither fit nor qualified to serve as a Judge on the First Circuit…" a post which would make him a prime candidate for a U.S. Supreme Court seat.
The Barron memo justifies the murder of U.S. citizens without due process of law, in violation of the Bill of Rights and the Fifth Amendment, Boyle says. The precise wording of Amendment V states "No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury…nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law…"
If Obama's nomination is approved, Boyle says, "we will have a murderer and war criminal sitting on the U.S. First Circuit and perhaps some day on the U.S. Supreme Court."
According to the impartial Bureau of Investigative Journalism, London, since 2004 the total number of CIA drone strikes in Pakistan is 381, 330 of them launched by President Obama. BIJ gives the following figures for the period:

Total killed: 2,537-3,646
Civilians killed: 416-951
Children killed: 168-200
Injured: 1,128-1,557

[Carsten Wiethoff]

From http://rt.com/news/uk-us-drones-strikes-320/

The UK has used American drones over 250 times to carry out previously unreported attacks in Afghanistan, the MoD has admitted. The reports prompted a sharp reaction from British rights groups who slammed the lack of transparency in the UK military.
In response to a freedom of information request by British rights group Drone Wars UK, the Ministry of Defense said it had launched 39 missile strikes from unmanned US craft in Afghanistan. This the first time the Ministry of Defense has admitted to the use of American craft in conflict zones to carry out strikes.
"Of the 2,150 missions flown by UK personnel, there were 271 missions in Afghanistan when UK personnel utilized a US Reaper, as a UK Reaper was unavailable. During these missions, UK personnel released 39 weapons. I am withholding information about weapons released by UK personnel embedded with the United States Air Force on operations in Afghanistan and Libya under Section 27 [of the Freedom of Information Act]," said a statement from the MoD.

It was revealed last year that members of the RAF embedded within the US forces had carried out 2,150 missions in Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq. However, the MoD did not divulge any specifics on the nature of the missions or the weapons that were used.
Prior to this, the MoD had stuck to statistics based on the amount of attacks carried out by British unmanned drones in Afghanistan, meaning that at least 10 percent of attacks carried out by British RAF pilots using American craft were not reported to parliament.
In response to the statement from the MoD, rights group Drone Wars UK said the lack of transparency was a testament to the "secrecy surrounding the use of armed drones."
"It is essential that information about drone operations and in particular drone strikes undertaken by British RAF pilots while embedded with US forces is made available for public scrutiny and debate rather than being withheld," said Chris Cole of Drone Wars UK, in a statement posted on the organization's site.
In addition, he said action must be taken to avoid the increasing use of "unaccountable military attacks" because they lead to "global instability and increased insecurity."
"The nature of this technology means that drones can simply and secretly be 'borrowed' between different operators, making public accountability when strikes take place very difficult if not impossible."
The UK had previously stated the amount of attacks carried out by British reaper drones in Afghanistan in 2012. As of November 1 of that year, 297 Hellfire precision missiles and 52 guided bombs had been employed by the UK since the beginning of the conflict in Afghanistan.

[Magda Hassan]

Anti-drone activist kidnapped in Pakistan before he was due to testify in Europe

Published time: February 11, 2014 04:05
Edited time: February 11, 2014 06:27 Get short URL

An MQ-1B Predator.(Reuters / U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)




Tags
Drones, Law, Pakistan

A prominent Pakistani journalist and anti-drone activist has gone missing after nearly two dozen men stormed his home and abducted him, his lawyer announced on Monday just days before he was due to testify before European parliamentarians.
Kareem Khan was taken from his home in Rawalpindi a city located just nine miles away from Islamabad in Punjab province by approximately 20 men. Shahzad Akbar, Khan's lawyer, told AFP that many of the men were wearing police uniforms, though the affiliation of the kidnappers remains unknown.
Khan was scheduled to depart Pakistan on Saturday to speak with German, Dutch, and British parliamentarians about his experience with drone strikes.
Khan originally hails from the tribal region of North Waziristan and became the first Pakistani man to sue the US government in connection with drone attacks that killed members of his family. Khan's brother and son were killed in a strike in December 2009.
Akbar now maintains that Khan's wife and children have not been given any information regarding his location, or why he was taken.
"We lodged a report with the local police but they denied having picked him up," the attorney said. "It seems to be work of the intelligence agencies."
Local police have denied any involvement, saying they have no record of a raid on the night in question.
Clare Algar, executive director at Reprieve a legal charity based in the UK wrote on the organization's website that officials are growing concerned.
"We are very worried about Mr. Khan's safety," she wrote. "He is a crucial witness to the dangers of the CIA's covert drone program, and has simply sought justice for the death of his son and brother through peaceful, legal routes. Reports that he was detained by men in police uniforms are of great concern, and we urge the Government of Pakistan to do everything in its power to secure his immediate release."
He first filed suit in 2010, asserting that drone strikes murder innocent civilians and violate international law by subverting the international prohibition on assassinations away from a battlefield. Khan said he was not home at the time of the strike, but stated that neighbors witnessed a massive blast.
In addition to Khan's brother and son, a construction worker also died in the strike. Khan's brother was a teacher with a master's degree in English, while his son was a staff member at a government school.
Senior US intelligence officials told CNN at the time that Khan was suspected of housing Haji Omar Khan, a notorious Taliban leader who was also killed in the strike. Khan has denied ever knowing Haji Omar Khan, who fought against the Soviet Red Army in Afghanistan before developing close ties with Mullah Omar.
Last year, Akbar who represents a number of Pakistanis affected by drone strikes and other activists published a letter in which they named the CIA station chief in Islamabad, accusing he and CIA director John Brennan of murder for their role in a drone strike late last year.
While exact figures are murky, AFP estimates that 2,155 Pakistanis have been killed in drone attacks since august 2008. It remains unknown how many of those killed were suspected militants and how many were civilians.
http://rt.com/news/anti-drone-pakistan-a...ssing-476/

[Peter Lemkin]

Anti-drone activist kidnapped in Pakistan before he was due to testify in Europe

Published time: February 11, 2014 04:05
Edited time: February 11, 2014 06:27 Get short URL

An MQ-1B Predator.(Reuters / U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)




Tags
Drones, Law, Pakistan

A prominent Pakistani journalist and anti-drone activist has gone missing after nearly two dozen men stormed his home and abducted him, his lawyer announced on Monday just days before he was due to testify before European parliamentarians.
Kareem Khan was taken from his home in Rawalpindi a city located just nine miles away from Islamabad in Punjab province by approximately 20 men. Shahzad Akbar, Khan's lawyer, told AFP that many of the men were wearing police uniforms, though the affiliation of the kidnappers remains unknown.
Khan was scheduled to depart Pakistan on Saturday to speak with German, Dutch, and British parliamentarians about his experience with drone strikes.
Khan originally hails from the tribal region of North Waziristan and became the first Pakistani man to sue the US government in connection with drone attacks that killed members of his family. Khan's brother and son were killed in a strike in December 2009.
Akbar now maintains that Khan's wife and children have not been given any information regarding his location, or why he was taken.
"We lodged a report with the local police but they denied having picked him up," the attorney said. "It seems to be work of the intelligence agencies."
Local police have denied any involvement, saying they have no record of a raid on the night in question.
Clare Algar, executive director at Reprieve a legal charity based in the UK wrote on the organization's website that officials are growing concerned.
"We are very worried about Mr. Khan's safety," she wrote. "He is a crucial witness to the dangers of the CIA's covert drone program, and has simply sought justice for the death of his son and brother through peaceful, legal routes. Reports that he was detained by men in police uniforms are of great concern, and we urge the Government of Pakistan to do everything in its power to secure his immediate release."
He first filed suit in 2010, asserting that drone strikes murder innocent civilians and violate international law by subverting the international prohibition on assassinations away from a battlefield. Khan said he was not home at the time of the strike, but stated that neighbors witnessed a massive blast.
In addition to Khan's brother and son, a construction worker also died in the strike. Khan's brother was a teacher with a master's degree in English, while his son was a staff member at a government school.
Senior US intelligence officials told CNN at the time that Khan was suspected of housing Haji Omar Khan, a notorious Taliban leader who was also killed in the strike. Khan has denied ever knowing Haji Omar Khan, who fought against the Soviet Red Army in Afghanistan before developing close ties with Mullah Omar.
Last year, Akbar who represents a number of Pakistanis affected by drone strikes and other activists published a letter in which they named the CIA station chief in Islamabad, accusing he and CIA director John Brennan of murder for their role in a drone strike late last year.
While exact figures are murky, AFP estimates that 2,155 Pakistanis have been killed in drone attacks since august 2008. It remains unknown how many of those killed were suspected militants and how many were civilians.
http://rt.com/news/anti-drone-pakistan-a...ssing-476/

Not good....my guess is both US [as lead] and Pakistan were involved.....sadly, he may never be seen again. Truth tellers die young and often of horrible deaths. He obviously angered the CIA on multiple occasions and was about to present testimony against them.....so he 'had' to be neutralized.

[Magda Hassan]

Published on Feb 14, 2014
UPDATE: We've just been informed that Kareem Khan has now been released after being interrogated, beaten and tortured. This press release from the human rights organisation Reprieve says that Kareem was questioned about his work on drone strikes while in detention and upon his release earlier today was told not to speak to the media: http://www.reprieve.org.uk/press/2014...

In the early hours of 5 February, the anti-drone activist Kareem Khan went missing from his home in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, just days before he was due to testify before members of the UK, Dutch and German Parliaments on the US' use of drone strikes in his country. Kareem's lawyer Shahzad Akbar, says his client was kidnapped by a Pakistani government agency, likely in an effort to prevent him from travelling to Europe. We spoke to Mr Akbar to find out more...

Watch Shahzad Akbar discuss the legality of US drone strikes here: http://bit.ly/1c6dEIQ

[Peter Lemkin]

Drone killings case thrown out in US

Judge dismisses lawsuit over death of Anwar al-Awlaki and two others in Yemen, saying it is a matter for Congress

Anwar al-Awlaki, a US citizen, was killed in an American drone strike in Yemen. Photograph: AP

A US federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against the government by the families of three American citizens killed by drones in Yemen, saying senior officials cannot be held personally responsible for money damages for the act of conducting war.
The families of the three including Anwar al-Awlaki, a New Mexico-born militant Muslim cleric who had joined al-Qaida's Yemen affiliate, as well as his teenage son sued over their 2011 deaths in US drone strikes, arguing that the killings were illegal.
Judge Rosemary Collyer of the US district court in Washington threw out the case, which had named as defendants the former defence secretary and CIA chief Leon Panetta, the former senior military commander and CIA chief David Petraeus and two other top military commanders.
"The question presented is whether federal officials can be held personally liable for their roles in drone strikes abroad that target and kill U.S. citizens," Collyer said in her opinion. "The question raises fundamental issues regarding constitutional principles and it is not easy to answer."
But the judge said she would grant the government's motion to dismiss the case.
Collyer said the officials named as defendants "must be trusted and expected to act in accordance with the US constitution when they intentionally target a US citizen abroad at the direction of the president and with the concurrence of Congress. They cannot be held personally responsible in monetary damages for conducting war."
Awlaki's US-born son Abdulrahman al-Awlaki was 16 years old when he was killed. Also killed was Samir Khan, a naturalised US citizen who had moved to Yemen in 2009 and worked on Inspire, an English-language al-Qaida magazine.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Centre for Constitutional Rights, both based in New York, represented the families. They had argued that in killing American citizens the government violated fundamental rights under the US constitution to due process and to be free from unreasonable seizure.
"This is a deeply troubling decision that treats the government's allegations as proof while refusing to allow those allegations to be tested in court," said ACLU lawyer Hina Shamsi. "The court's view that it cannot provide a remedy for extrajudicial killings when the government claims to be at war, even far from any battlefield, is profoundly at odds with the Constitution."
Centre for Constitutional Rights lawyer Maria LaHood said the judge "effectively convicted" Anwar al-Awlaki "posthumously based solely on the government's say-so". LaHood said the judge also found that the constitutional rights of the son and of Khan "weren't violated because the government didn't target them".
"It seems there's no remedy if the government intended to kill you, and no remedy if it didn't. This decision is a true travesty of justice for our constitutional democracy and for all victims of the US government's unlawful killings," LaHood said.
Collyer ruled that the families did not have a claim under the Constitution's fourth amendment guarantee against unreasonable seizures because the government did not seize or restrain the three who were killed. "Unmanned drones are functionally incapable of 'seizing' a person; they are designed to kill, not capture," she wrote.
Collyer wrote that the families had presented a plausible claim that the government violated Awlaki's due process rights. "Nonetheless the court finds no available remedy under US law for this claim," the judge wrote.
"In this delicate area of war making national security and foreign relations the judiciary has an exceedingly limited role."
Allowing claims against individual federal officials in this case "would impermissibly draw the court into the heart of executive and military planning and deliberation", she wrote. It would "require the court to examine national security policy and the military chain of command as well as operational combat decisions".
Nasser al-Awlaki, father of Anwar al-Awlaki, said he was disappointed in the American justice system and "like any parent or grandparent would, I want answers from the government when it decides to take life, but all I have got so far is secrecy and a refusal even to explain".
Drone attacks have killed several suspected figures in al-Qaida's Yemen-based affiliate including Awlaki, who is accused of orchestrating plots to bomb a Detroit-bound airliner in 2009 and US cargo planes in 2010.
The United States has faced international criticism for its use of drones to attack militants in places such as Pakistan and Yemen. A UN human rights watchdog in March called on the Obama administration to limit its use of drones targeting suspected al-Qaida and Taliban militants.
Barack Obama's administration increased the number of drone strikes after he took office in 2009 but attacks have dropped off in the past year. The US has come under pressure from critics to rein in the missile strikes and do more to protect civilians.

[Peter Lemkin]

INFINITY 9 OCTOCOPTER

Engineered to effortlessly carry extraordinary payloads with exceptional stability, the Infinity 9 octocopter by Turbo Ace is the world's largest and most powerful octocopter. Establishing a new class of Super Lift octocopters, this modern marvel is capable of carrying 12-18 lbs of payload, about a 50% increase over current Heavy Lift models. Instead of just carrying a barebone Red Epic, the Infinity 9 can easily sustain heavier lenses and battery options without impacting video quality. A majestic 5.5 feet wingspan of precision carbon fiber and CNC aluminum structure is well matched with cutting edge triple bearing 48mm brushless motors and 17 inch high profile carbon fiber propellers to generate unrivaled capacity and performance. As a world class developer and distributor of helicopter and multicopters, Turbo Ace offers cutting edge technology with an outstanding track record for delivery and support. Fully assembled and tested turnkey Infinity 9 packages include a seamless integration of professional gimbals, GPS functions, long range pilot/cameraman transmitters, FPV live video feed and training options. In contrast to most octocopters which are disassembled and delivered in pieces, the Infinity 9 structure is designed to fold and unfold within minutes for shipping and remote field operations. Convenient parts and upgrades support is available from our 32,000 square feet facility in California.
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INFINITY 9 OCTOCOPTER FEATURES & OPTIONS

• Triple Carbon Fiber Decks & CNC Aluminum Architecture
  
• Super Rigid 5½ Feet Wingspan for smooth effortless motion & stability
  
  
• Patent Pending Foldable Carbon Fiber Booms with Lockable Aluminum Gliders on Carbon Tracks
  
• Long Range 2.4GHz Transmitters, Receivers & Telemetry for up to 1.2 miles operations
  
• Telemetry Set Up includes secondary alarm for low battery status warning
  
  
• Advanced DJI Naza-M V2 or A2 Flight Controller & GPS Functions
  
• Triple Bearing 48mm Brushless Motors for extraordinary precision, torque & durability
  
  
• 60A SimonK ESCs with customized algorithms for smoother & cooler operations
  
  
• 17 Inch High Profile Carbon Fiber Double-Point Mount Propellers
  
  
• Retractable Landing Skid with Easy Release Track System
  
  
• Advanced 3-Axis Gimbals for DSLR & Red Epic Cameras
  
  
• Vibration Isolation to prevent jello associated with rolling shutters
  
  
• FPV Live Video Feed Transmitter, Receivers & FPV Monitors/Goggles
  
  
• OSD to Display In-flight Data & Artificial Horizon overlaid on top of FPV
  
• 2x to 4x 10,000mah 6S LiPo Battery for extended flight time
  
• SkyRC Ultra Fast Battery Charger or SkyRC 4-Simultaneous Batteries Charger
  
• Waypoint Components for preprogrammed flights.
  
• Options for Training include smaller crash resistant quadcopter & flight simulators
  
  
• Flash Memory with individual test flight video and comprehensive User Instruction Manual
  [B][/B]
  

[B]INFINITY 9 FLIGHT CONTROLLER FEATURES & OPTIONS[/B]

• Selection of DJI Naza-M V2 or A2 Flight Controllers
  
  
• Auto-Stabilized Flight Mode utilizes gyro-activated stabilization to counter wind & assist pilot in maneuvering the aircraft.
  
• GPS & Altitude Lock offer hands-free hover in a fixed GPS position within a 2-4 feet radius using satellite based GPS coordinates and within 2 feet in elevation using barometric sensor.
  
• Home Lock utilizes the GPS based home position for a tail-in oriented carefree flight.
  
• Course Lock utilizes the initial direction as a consistent and orientation for carefree flight.
  
• Preprogrammed Failsafe Return to Home is triggered by lost of signals to return the octocopter to the home position. This program can be reset to automatically direct the octocopter to climb to different predetermined height to avoid possible tall obstacles in its homeward path.
  
• Auto-Land Sequence is triggered if pilot fails to land after an extended battery low status.
  

INFINITY 9 OCTOCOPTER SPECIFICATIONS

• Motor to Motor Dimensions: 49.5" (1,260mm) octocopter frame
  
• Wingspan Dimension: 66.5" (1,690mm) propeller tip to tip
  
  
• Height: 8" to 24" (205mm to 610mm) depending on gimbal and skid landing configuration
  
• 8 x Brushless Motors: 48mm x 24mm, optimized KV, triple Japanese bearing integration & dynamically balanced
  
• Proprietary Dynamic Cooling Motor Bells & Propeller Bases
  
  
• 8 x ESC Modules: 60A SimonK with specialized cooling & multi-rotor algorithm
  
• 8 x Propellers: 17" carbon fiber, high profile, dual-point mount
  
• Proprietary Dynamic Cooling Motor Bell & Propeller Implementation
  
  
• Optimal Payload: 12-18 lbs (Although capable of carrying higher payloads, an optimal 15 lbs payload is recommended.)
  
• All in Weight: 22-28 lbs depending on payload & batteries
  
• Flight Time: 12-20 minutes depending on payload & batteries
  
• Transmitter & Receiver Recommendation: 2.4GHz with 3 Position Switches, Minimum 6-Channels for Pilot & Minimum 4-Channels for Cameraman
  
  
• Single Operator Transmitter & Receiver Recommendation: Pilot = Futaba 14SG & R7008SB x Qty2
  
  
• Dual Operators Transmitter & Receiver Recommendation: Pilot = Spektrum DX8 & AR8000 or Futaba 14SG & R7008SB, Cameraman = Spektrum DX7S & AR8000 or Walkera Devo 10 & RX1002
  
  
• Long Distance Operations: 4,224 feet (.8miles) to 6,336 feet (1.2miles) (Using Spektrum DX8/DX18 & Futaba 14SG)
  
  
• FPV Recommendation: 5.8GHz Video Transmitter & Video Receiver + Monitor or Goggles
  
• Wind Tolerance: 35MPH
  

[B]
Cutting Edge Foldable Architecture
While portability is becoming an indispensable feature on larger octocopters, common integration of hinges, unsecured tracks and foldable propellers will ultimately weaken and degrade an octocopter's structural integrity and performance. In contrast to other leading octocopter models, Infinity 9's folding mechanism and booms are designed to enhance the strength and rigidity of its main frame. Guided by CNC aluminum brackets on carbon fiber tracks, an operator can easily fold and unfold Infinity 9's booms in and out of operation position in minutes. When locked into operating position, the gliding brackets and booms become one with the main frame for an ultra rigid platform.

17" Carbon Fiber Propellers driven by powerful 48mm Brushless Motors
With unparalleled payload capacity and flight time, the Infinity 9 is setting new records beyond the reach of other upcoming octocopters. At the forefront of innovation, Turbo Ace has developed a whole new class of super sized brushless motors that combines unrivaled power, precision and durability. The proprietary triple bearing design improves stability and lifespan while an exclusive self-cooling motor bell mitigates operating temperature. To ensure long term performance and durability, only premium stators and Japanese bearings are integrated. Then, after rigorous testing, customized 17" high profile carbon propellers are optimized for performance & efficiency under heavier payloads.

Breakthrough Payload & Flight Time
Targeting exceptional flight time and extra payload capacity? At 12-20 minutes, the Infinity 9 beats all rival heavy lifting octocopters by a wide margin. And as payload increases, standard octocopters are straining for stability while flight time also suffers significantly. Sustaining 12-18 lbs of payload on 17" propellers, Infinity 9's generous 5½ feet wingspan enables producers to operate with a wider margin for safety. Operating in unprotected locations, Infinity 9's extra capacity and aerodynamic profile promotes superior wind resistance in producing smooth movements and uncompromised stability.

3-Axis 360 Panning Gimbal & Retractable Skid with Easy Release Tracks
Over this past year, Turbo Ace has emerged as the leading provider of 3-axis gimbals in the USA. Integrated between retractable skids, an excellent choice is the well-established PhotoHigher AV200 gimbal for DSLR and Red Epic cameras. Mounted on secured quick release tracks with an exclusive vibration isolation system, this professional gimbal features several modes for tilt-axis and roll-axis auto-compensation with pilot or cameraman controlled tilt-axis and pan-axis. Once the Inifinity 9 takes off, simply retract the robust landing skids for ultra smooth unobstructed tilting and unlimited 360° panning. Versatile Infinity 9 transmitter and receiver configurations enable a single operator to pilot the octocopter and control the gimbal to pan and tilt the camera. Another popular choice, the dual operators configuration includes a main transmitter for the pilot and a secondary transmitter for the cameraman. Remote shutter trigger can also be set up to work from a transmitter switch. For convenient transportation, optional Easy Release Track System enables the operator to release the landing skid and gimbal from the bottom of the octocopter.

RECORD BREAKING PAYLOAD & FLIGHT TIME
Conquering full Red Epic payload, the holy grail of octocopter aerials, has been an elusive goal for many "heavy lift" octocopters with marginal performance and lack of flight time. With a 50% surplus in payload, the Infinity 9 is pioneering a new breed of "super lift" octocopters to effortlessly carry Red Epic payloads with heavier lenses and battery options.

DYNAMICALLY BALANCED SELF-COOLING MOTORS & OVER-SPECCED ESCS
For exceptionally smooth operations on outsize brushless motors, Infinity 9's 48mm X 24mm motors are supported by cutting edge triple bearing systems. As in all motors, bearings play a crucial role in determining a motor's precision & lifespan. Fringed by 3 tough oversized Japanese bearings, two on the bottom and one on top, Infinity 9's extra tough brushless motors are designed to support higher centrifugal force of larger propellers with exceptional precision. Then to protect the motors from higher temperatures, Turbo Ace engineers implemented an ingenious self-cooling solution using proprietary motor drum design that automatically draws air into the top of the motors. To further reduce vibrations, each motor is dynamically balanced. Since brushless motors are hand wound, the mass center is usually not in alignment with the mechanical center. Using advanced electronic balancing instruments, our factory spins up each motor then make necessary adjustments to bring the mass center into alignment. And, to power and sustain the motors, Infinity 9's ESCs feature advanced multi-rotor algorithms (as oppose to improvised helicopter algorithms on competing models) with 60A to support power fluctuations associated with extreme acceleration and maneuvers under bigger payloads. By operating below capacity, Infinity 9 ESCs are barely warm even with consecutive flights.

STIFFER & THICKER DOUBLE-POINT MOUNTED 17" CARBON PROPELLERS
No propellers are created equal. 17" Infinity 9 robust carbon fiber propellers include a specialized 3D high profile design with extra thick mid-section to resists flex then tapers to efficient blades to cut through the air with minimal drag. Traditional circular mounts are accidents waiting to happen because the force of rotating propellers will eventually unscrew the crown nuts during flight. Integrated double point mounts on Infinity 9 motors and propellers eliminates this possibility and at the same time improves tracking precision because the propellers are forced to sit flat against the top of the motors. Another benefit of a flat mount is that there is no vulnerable protruding motor shaft. Slight deviations in traditional circular mounting holes or protruding motor shafts are extremely difficult to detect which amplify pitch and tracking misalignments, a major cause of vibrations and unstable flights. Since end-users are often required to purchase and replace propellers, the Infinity 9's new hassle free mounting configuration is implemented to prevent vibration issues from surfacing.

SELECTABLE MANUAL, ATTITUDE & GPS FLIGHT MODES
A 3-positioned switch is setup on Infinity 9's transmitter for pilot to select between 3 different flight modes. (1) With Manual Flight Mode, the absence of Gyro assisted flight makes it very difficult for the Pilot to stabilize and maneuver the octocopter. (2) For 3-axis gyro auto-stabilized flight, the Attitude Flight Mode will automatically keep the Infinity 9 in a leveled and sustainable flight thus enabling the pilot to focus on maneuvering the octocopter. (3) Last but not least, the GPS Flight Mode is the most often used mode because it combines the benefit of 3-axis gyro auto-stabilized flight with 4 advanced GPS based functions described below.

GPS-LOCK & RETURN-TO-HOME
Under GPS Flight Mode, (1) the most utilized GPS based functions is the GPS-Lock function - simply release the cyclic stick and allow it to spring to the middle of the control and the Infinity 9 will be locked into a fixed GPS location (longitude-lock and latitude-lock) with a tolerance of 2 to 4 feet radius. Another similar function from the Infinity 9 flight controller, the Barometric-Lock can be activated by moving the throttle stick to the middle of the control and Infinity 9 will be locked into a fixed elevation (altitude-lock). A hands-free hover modes is established when the pilot activates both the GPS-Lock and the Barometric-Lock simultaneously and the flight controller takes over. Either lock may also be used independently to hover in a fixed GPS coordinate with pilot controlled elevation or vice versa. By relinquishing controls to these auto-hover modes, the pilot can better focus on monitoring the video and controlling the camera. Another popular GPS function is (2) the Return-to-Home feature which is usually a preprogrammed failsafe function which is automatically triggered by a lost of remote control signals. Upon activation, the octocopter will hover in place for a couple of seconds before elevating to a preprogrammed height and return to the home position for an automated landing sequence.

GPS BASED COURSE-LOCK & HOME-LOCK
Under GPS Flight Mode, there is a dedicated 3-positioned carefree mode switch set up to access Normal, Course-Lock & Home-Lock. (3) Course-Lock, a compass based carefree mode that remembers the initial take-off direction of the flight which is used to consistently orient the octocopter. Under Course-Lock, the transmitter radio must remain in the intial take-off direction until it's reset or until the octocopter lands. For example, with the transmitter pointed in the eastward direction, a octocopter takes off in a eastward heading orientation then turns towards a northward heading. Without Course-Lock, a transmitter cyclic (directional) stick moved up towards the east will cause the octocopter to head northward. Under Course-Lock, a cyclic stick moved up towards the east will cause the octocopter to head eastward which is consistent with the initial take-off direction. In effect, by keeping the transmitter pointed in the initial eastward take-off direction, the cyclic stick direction will always correspond to the octocopter's direction no matter how the heading has changed. At any time the pilot may reset the initial direction by flipping the Carefree Mode Switch in and out of Course-Lock. (4) Lastly, there is another similar carefree mode with a twist. Home-Lock, a home GPS coordinate based carefree mode is very similar to Course-Lock. The difference is that Home-Lock uses the home location as the consistent tail-in or tail towards the pilot orientation for the entire flight. While this allows the pilot to constantly turn and follow the octocopter, the pilot should not move away from the home location. And because GPS has a tolerance of 3-5 feet, Home-Lock is less precise than Course-Lock. However, as the hexacopter gets further from the home position, the precision improves dramatically. This is why Home-Lock will not and cannot be activated within a 30-feet circle from the home position. To use Home-Lock, the pilot usually maintains a tail-in orientation until the octocopter is well beyond the 30 feet circle before assuming that Home-Lock can activated. At this point the pilot can constantly turn and point the transmitter at the octocopter and the cyclic stick will always correspond directly to the cotocopter's direction. To bring the octocopter back, the pilot simply pulls the cyclic towards himself - basically a manual controlled return-to-home function. Special caution is required when the octocopter approaches the 30-feet circle because Home-Lock will automatically switch to Course-Lock. If the octocopter enters the 30-feet circle from the initial take-off direction so that Home-Lock is equal to Course-Lock the pilot can assume that the octocopter is under Course-Lock until the octocopter lands. In summary, an experience pilot uses the "Normal" flight mode because no help is required from GPS. Both Course-Lock & Home-Lock carefree flight modes enable the operator to pilot the octocopter without keeping track of the octocopter's heading or tail position. This is especially useful if a less experience pilot is rotating the octocopter to pan the video. There is much less confusion for beginner pilots to stick with either "Normal" mode or use GPS assisted Course-Lock. Home-Lock is reserved for longer distances within-the-line-of-sight flight because it's a bit confusing to operate when it approaches 30 feet from the home position.

ULTRA DURABLE & MAINTENANCE FRIENDLY
All Infinity 9 material and components are selected and built for reliability and durability. Premium carbon fiber is utilized in the main frame for its rigidity and light weight properties. Wear resistant CNC aluminum components are utilized in screw mounted joints, brackets and posts. Tough Japanese bearings are implemented to guard against higher temperatures. Then for continued maintenance, the Infinity 9 is based on a modularized design with strategically placed high tensile strength connectors so it's extremely easy and cost effective to maintain and operate. With minimal disassembly, octocopter components can be independently removed and replaced to diagnose and repair problems. As with all Turbo Ace production models, well stocked Infinity 9 octocopter parts and upgrades are manufactured in larger volumes, savings are then passed on to end-users. Operators are encouraged to keep some backup parts such as spare propellers, screws and batteries for replacement. Complimentary Turbo Ace videos are available online to assist operators in maintaining and upgrading the Infinity 9.

EXPANDABILITY WITH OPEN ARCHITECTURE & UPDATABLE ONLINE FIRMWARE
Catering to research professionals and avid hobbyists, the Infinity 9 welcomes a full spectrum of specialized modifications. An open architecture supports unparalleled flexibility for arm and frame extensions, variable motor mount options and ample space for peripheral integration. Integrated with either DJI NAZA-V2 or A2 flight controller, the Infinity 9 octocopter is supported with continued online updatable firmware and you can also integrate multiple waypoints options.

FLIGHT CONTROLLER OPTIONS
[/B]

DJI NAZA-M V2 MULTI-ROTOR STABILIZATION CONTROLLER[URL="http://www.wowhobbies.com/djinazammultirotorautopilotv2withgps.aspx"]
[/URL]

• Support Multi-Rotor: Quad-Rotor I4, X4/ Hex-Rotor I6, X6, IY6, Y6/
  Octo-rotor I8，V8，X8
  
• Supported ESC Output: 400Hz Refresh Frequency
  
• Recommended Transmitter: PCM or 2.4GHz with minimum 4 channels
  
• Working Voltage Range: MC: 4.8V~5.5V
  
• Working Voltage Range: PMU input: 7.4V to 26.0V (recommend 2S to 6S Lipo)
  
  
• Power Consumption: MAX 3.15W (0.25A@12.6V), Normal: 1.638W (0.13A@12.6V)
  
• Operating Temperature: -10 ~ 50 degree Celsius
  
• Assistant Software System Requirement: Windows XP sp3 / Windows 7 / Windows 8
  
• Maximum Yaw Angular Velocity: 200/s
  
• Maximum Tilt Angle: 45
  
• Ascent / Descent: +-6m/s
  
• MC: 27g
  
• GPS/Compass: 27g
  
  
• PMU: 28g
  
• LED: 13g
  
  
• Dimensions: MC: 45.5mm x 32.5mm x 18.5mm, GPS/Compass 46mm (diameter) x 10mm, PMU 39.5mm x 27.5mm x 10.0mm, LED 25mm x 25mm x 7.0mm
  
  
• Built-in Functions: Three Modes Auto-pilot, Enhanced Failsafe, Low Voltage Protection, S-Bus Receiver Support, PPM Receiver Support, 2-Axis Gimbal Support
  

DJI A2 MULTI-ROTOR STABILIZATION CONTROLLER


Based on the technology and design philosophy of DJI's Ace series of high-performance controllers, the A2 offers you a brand new flight experience. The A2 adopts a full metal case design and utilizes high quality components precisely calibrated with temperature compensation in all gyros and sensors, industry renowned flight algorithm in flight control and UAV field.


[B]Peripherals
[/B]

• Supported Multi-Rotor: Quad-Rotor: +4,x4; Hex-Rotor +6,x6,Y6,Rev Y6; Octo-Rotor +8,x8,V8
  
• Supported ESC Output: 400Hz refresh frequency
  
• Supported Transmitter for Built-in Receiver: Futaba FASST Series and DJI DESST Series
  
• Supported External Receiver: Futaba S-Bus, S-Bus2, DSM2
  
• Recommended Battery: 2S ~ 6S LiPo
  
• Operating Temperature: -5°C to +60°C
  
• Assistant Software System Requirement: Windows XP SP3 / 7 /8 (32 or 64 bit)
  
• Other DJI Products Supported: Z15,H3-2D,iOSD,2.4G Data Link,S800 EVO
  

[B]Flight Performance
[/B]

• Hovering Accuracy (In GPS Mode): Vertical: ± 0.5m; Horizontal: ± 1.5m
  
• Max Yaw Angular Velocity: 150 deg/s
  
• Max Tilt Angle: 35°
  

[B]Electrical & Mechanical
[/B]

• Power Consumption: MAX 5W (Typical Value: 0.3A@12.5V
  
• Built-In Functions: Built-in Receiver; Multiple Control Modes; 2-axis Gimbal Supported; Low Voltage Protection; PC & Bluetooth Ground Station
  
• Built-In Functions: External Receiver Supported; Intelligent Orientation Control; Sound Alarm; 4 Configurable Output
  
• Total Weight: Total Weight: <= 224g(overall)
  
• Flight Controller Dimensions: 54mm x 39mm x 14.9mm
  
• IMU Dimensions: 41.3mm x 30.5mm x 26.3mm
  
• GPS-Compass Pro Dimensions: 62mm (diameter) x 14.3mm
  
• LED-BTU-I Dimensions: 30mm x 30mm x 7.9mm
  
• PMU Dimensions: 39.5mm x 27.6mm x 9.8mm
  

STANDARD & LONG DISTANCE TRANSMITTERS FOR INFINITY 9
Due to safety and equipment concerns, transmitter reliability is crucial in professional octocopter operations. Although there are standard distance transmitter/receiver available, we urge you to select a long distance transmitter/receiver with the most reliable track record. Upgrading your transmitter/receiver after the initial order can be complicated and costly. Without an established standard of verification, it's common for transmitter brands to overstate operating distances by discounting the importance of reliability. For example a typical smaller transmitters used on smaller quadcopter specced for 900 feet range may only work reliably up to about 150-200 feet. If you operate these marginal transmitters at 900 feet you will lose the signal almost every time. Although the return-to-home function will kick in to save your copter from signal lost, it's very important to avoid over use of this failsafe function of last resort. There is a huge range of 2.4GHz transmiter technology with differences in range, reliability, features and price point. For quadcopter and hexacopter in mid-range operations, the most practical choice is Walkera Devo 10. For octocopter with more expensive equipments onboard, the reliability that comes with long range transmitter is a necessity. With a well established track record of advanced technology and extensive field testing, the best transmitter choices for octocopter pilots are the Spektrum DX8, DX9 and the Futaba 14SG. With cutting edge development, these transmitters models utilizing frequency hopping technology and multiple signal path for signal diversity. Even with occasional signal lost, these leading edge 2.4GHz transmitters can quickly recover from signal lost before the return-to-home function activates.



Spektrum DX8 Long Distance Transmitter

• 2.4GHz DSMX Transmitter with 8 Channels
  
• AR8000 Receiver Package with 8 Channels
  
• Main Receiver & Satellite Receiver Strategically Placed for Signal Path Diversity
  
• TM1000 Telemetry Installed for Updated Flight Battery Status to Trigger Low Battery Alarm
  
• Reliable Standard & Long Distance of 1 to 1.2 Mile
  
• 2013's #1 Selling & User Friendly Transmitter
  

Spektrum DX9 Long Distance Transmitter

• 2.4GHz DSMX Transmitter with 9 Channels
  
• AR9020 Receiver Package with 9 Channels
  
• Main Receiver & 2x Satellite Receivers Strategically Placed for Signal Path Diversity
  
• TM1000 Telemetry Installed for Updated Flight Battery Status to Trigger Low Battery Alarm
  
• Reliable Standard & Long Distance of 1 to 1.2 Mile
  
• Improved Robust Antenna for durability
  
  
• 2014's #1 Selling & User Friendly Transmitter
  

Futaba 14SG Long Distance Transmitter

• 2.4GHz FASSTEST Transmitter with 14 Channels
  
• R7800SB Bi-Directional Receiver with 8 Channels (Optional: R6106HFC Receiver for 6 additional channels)
  
• S.Bus2 Bi-Directional Protocol for Additional Servos, Telemetry & Other Auxiliary Functions
  
• Telemetry Voltage Sensor Installed for Updated Flight Battery Status to Trigger Low Battery Alarm
  
• Ultra Reliable Standard & Long Distance of 1 to 1.2 Mile (Upgradable for even longer range
  
• Overwhelmingly Recommended by Professional RC Pilot Groups
  
• Upgradable from 8 to 14 channels with optional 2nd receiver (Especially suited to unlimited 360 panning on single pilot set ups.)
  
  

[B]RECORDING CAMERA VERSUS FPV CAMERA
Aerial cameras mounted under octocopter serves two main purposes. (1) First and foremost, cameras are used for the purpose of recording videos or taking still photographs. Preferably, a recording camera such as a DSLR is mounted on an auto-stabilized gyro based gimbal (camera mount) to stabilize the camera's horizon. (2) For more experienced pilots, a camera can be used for the purpose of piloting the octocopter from the point of view of the camera aka FPV (first-person-view) piloting. If the camera is mounted directly on the octocopter without stabilization, the pilot can experience the tilt (pitch) & roll of the octocopter. If the camera is auto-stabilized on a gimbal, OSD (on-screen-display) may be required to overlay artificial horizon and flight status on live feed video.

600TVL Camera[/B]

• Super Compact at 1"x1"x1" Approximate Dimension
  
• Extremely Light
  
• Convenient 2-way Tape Mounting facilitates an easy way to change PFV location.
  
  
• For FPV Piloting: 600TVL camera is hard mounted on the octocopter's frame so pilot can see the video's tilt & roll action of the octocopter.
  
  
• For Framing Videos: 600TVL camera is mounted on the bottom of the brushless gimbal which is aligned with the Hero 3 on the gimbal.
  

DSLR Cameras

• Canon 5D Mark ii/iii, 6D, 7D, 60D, 70D & Nikon D800
  
• Requires AV200 Auto-Stabilized Gyro Based Gimbal
  

Vibration Isolation System

• Isolate camera & gimbal from high frequency vibrations
  
• Prevent Rolling Shutter, the Major Cause of Jello Effects
  
• Extra Thick Carbon Fiber Mounting Plate
  

AV200 3-Axis Gimbal + Skyline Auto-Stabilization + Unlimited 360 Panning

• Precision Smooth Movement for Professional DSLR Performance
  
• Selectable Gimbal Auto-Stabilization Modes
  
• Auto-Stabilized Tilt-Axis & Roll-Axis
  
• Pilot or Cameraman Controlled Tilt-Axis & Unlimited 360 Pan-Axis
  
• Maximum 177mm Camera Mounting Width
  
• Examples of DSLR cameras supported: Canon 5D Mark ii/iii, 6D/7D/60D/70D, Nikon D800
  
• Optional Dedicated Cameraman Transmitter & Receiver Setups
  

• Lighter TVL camera is easy to set up and promotes longer flight time.
  
  
• Composite video output & standardized plug enable simple connection to video transmitter.
  
  
• Hard mounted on the Hexacopter, TVL camera can be used for FPV piloting & surveillance.
  
  
• Mounted on under or above the gimbal, TVL camera can be aligned with DSLR camera for framing your videos and stills.
  

FPV From DSLR Camera

• You can see exactly what the DSLR camera is capturing for framing your video and stills.
  
• Special cable connector is provided for video transmitter to plug into the DSLR camera's video out port
  
• Examples of DSLR cameras supported: Canon 5D Mark ii/iii, 6D/7D/60D/70D, Nikon D800
  

[B]MULTIPLE WAYPOINTS
Multiple Waypoints aka autonomous flight refers to the ability to launch and retrieve the octocopter using a preprogram flight plan. With a predetermined flight path, the octocopter will take off, cover each waypoint in sequence and return to the home position. This is available with integrated software that works with iPad or Google Earth, datalink transmitter/receiver modules and multiple way-point datalinks for Naza-M V2 or A2 flight controllers. Here are the required components.

2.4GHz Bluetooth Datalink for Naza-M V2 or A2
[/B]

• Datalink which are transmitters and receivers those enable the flight controller to communicate with the ground station.
  
• The ground station is basically an iPad with a multiple way point software installed and integrated to work with Google Earth.
  
• 16 Waypoints
  
  

900MHz Datalink for A2

• Datalink which are transmitters and receivers those enable the flight controller to communicate with the ground station.
  
• The ground station is basically a PC with a multiple way point software installed and integrated to work with Google Earth.
  
• 50 Waypoints
  

[B]
TRANSMITTER & RECEIVER OPERATING REQUIREMENTS
Standard remote control transmitters and receivers utilized with the Infinity 9 octocopter operate under FCC Part 15 (S29DEVO-10, BRWDAMTX11, AZPT14SG-24G, S29TX5803) in either legal 2.4GHz and/or 5.8GHz frequencies. In general, advanced octocopters require a minimum of 9-10 channels under the 2.4GHz frequency range: 4 channels for piloting controls plus 2 channels for the GPS and 3-4 channels for controlling the gimbal. Extended distance transmitters usually employ several methods to promote signal strength and reliability. (1) Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) is a method of transmitting radio signals by rapidly switching between several frequencies to seek the least amount of traffic. (2) Dual or triple signal paths diversity enable the signals to reach two or three receivers mounted in different locations on the octocopter so the system can utilize the strongest signal path or by using bi-directionally receivers so communications between the receivers and the transmitter is able locate the best frequencies in real time (3) In case of signal interruptions, ultra fast signal recovery algorithm enables the transmitter and receiver to quickly rebind for continued operations. Products using permitted frequencies without certification will require an amateur radio (ham) license. It is the operator's responsibility to ensure the use of such products meet their individual countries' federal and local government's rules or regulations for RF devices. If you are unsure of your government's requirement or unable to comply with them, please do not purchase this product. Please do not alter the purchased product in violation of said rules and regulations because Turbo Ace and its distributor cannot be held liable for operator's misuse or modification of a legal product.

INTEGRATION, SET UP, FLIGHT TEST & SHIPPING
There are a myriad of Infinity 9 options to satisfying specific applications. After installation, setup and inspection, our seasoned technicians will complete final adjustments plus a series of test flights. If your orders is placed for pick-up, we will redo a live flight-test when you arrive at our showroom. If you order is to be shipped, a test flight video for your specific Infinity 9 order will be recorded, saved and shipped with the instructions in a flash drive. Our Infinity 9 packages are designed to retain all assembled components as a fully integrated system during shipping. To prevent damage, the Infinity 9 octocopter is suspended in the middle of a large corrugated shipping box.[/B]

[Magda Hassan]

TPTB don't like freelance drones.