Stinger takes flight

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – From right, Mike Mocerino, a developer with W.S. Darley and Company, demonstrates the maneuverability of the Stinger system while Fred Terryn, Air Force Civil Engineer Center fire emergency services program manager looks on. AFCEC personnel as well as members of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and Tyndall fire departments took part in a Stinger demonstration at the Silver Flag Exercise site here on Aug. 20, 2013. AFCEC is looking at ways to use UAVs to get a bird’s-eye view of emergency situations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Eddie Green)

Stinger takes flight

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Air Force Civil Engineer Center personnel as well as members of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and Tyndall fire departments took part in a demonstration of the Stinger unmanned aerial vehicle at the Silver Flag Exercise site here Aug. 20, 2013. The Stinger can launch within seconds after an emergency to feed live video of an incident scene to a ground control station or command center. AFCEC is looking at ways to use UAVs to get a bird’s-eye view of emergency situations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Eddie Green)

Through the eye of the Stinger

Published Aug. 27, 2013
By John Burt
AFCEC Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Force firefighting may soon reach new heights thanks to unmanned aerial vehicles like the Stinger.

"I think UAVs are the next step in emergency services response," said Mark Giuliano, Eglin Fire Emergency Services Chief. "As an incident commander, I want to able to see as much of the fire scene as I can."

The fire emergency services division of Det. 1, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, here is looking at ways to use UAVs to get a bird's-eye view of emergency situations. AFCEC personnel as well as members of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and Tyndall fire departments took part in a demonstration of the Stinger system at the Silver Flag Exercise site here Aug. 20, 2013.

"Systems like this could offer quick surveillance and rapidly give me the information needed to develop an incident action plan." said Giuliano. "Exploring technology like this is something that we in Air Force fire should do to determine the best application."

Built of carbon fiber and weighing less than four-and-a-half pounds, the Stinger is a four-rotor helicopter, or quadcopter, with an on-board, high-definition camera and transmitter. It can launch within seconds after an emergency to feed live video of a scene to a ground control station or command center. The camera can also be replaced with a thermal imaging device to enable fire commanders to detect hotspots.

The Stinger also has a global positioning system and can hold a fixed latitude, longitude and altitude, giving the operator a stable view of an area of interest. The vehicle uses a single four-cell lithium polymer battery which powers about 25 minutes of flight. Flight time can be extended by using a multi-battery payload.

"We've not had this capability on the fire ground in the past," said Fred Terryn, AFCEC fire emergency services program manager. "UAVs will only enhance our capacity to protect our firefighters, save lives and effectively stabilize an incident."