Environmental Sciences aircraft with alternate missions as needed

[Daryl J.]

Since NASA has the WB-57 with a N number and the ER-2, what else could be out there?

What got me thinking was the photograph of the MQ-9 taken in Afghanistan and off in the distance between its main landing gear is the WB-57 but with markings removed.

A high altitude OV-10, air sampling pods/sensors that just also happens to be SIGINT?
A high speed, low-high altitude Vigilante checking for minerals' precise locations in the ground that also monitors the growth of Coca in Central/S. America and cannibis in N. Calif/S. Oregon?

What European organizations are out there similar to NASA?
1/72 RevellGermany Ho-229 with modern flight control systems, massively uprated engines, elongated wings with winglets?
1/48 Venom FB.4 with lengthy extended wing tips with winglets, requisite pods hither and yon?
1/72 Shinmaywa with contraprops, foul weather hull, SSTOL, and ice probes for the Antarctic or deep water probes carried beneath the wings?

Daryl J., wondering aloud again.

[dragon]

There is this beautiful UAV Predator kit out there in 1/72 (I forget the manufacturer) and NASA roundels (available at Hannants).  However that's just too easy.

Maybe an ESA A380 or Antonov 125?

[Hobbes]

In Europe you have ESA (for scientific space exploration) and Arianespace (commercial organisation that launches Ariane). NASA has a broader remit, it also does aeronautics and airborne research. In Europe those tend to be done by national organisations instead. NLR and DLR are the Dutch and German aeronautics research institutes, for example.

There have been a few instances where the Dutch police borrowed a RNLAF F-16 with recon pack to find lost people or murder victims.

[lenny100]

there is always this with the British Meteorological Office which in wartime will become part of the RAF Lockheed C-130K Hercules W2

[Geoff]

The Luftwaffe used to have a couple of Canberra B2s for similar missions.

[kitnut617]

Don't know if this little guy applies but it flew right over my house a couple of weeks ago. At minimum height too.

[Weaver]

there is always this with the British Meteorological Office which in wartime will become part of the RAF Lockheed C-130K Hercules W2

Or would have done until they scrapped it: it's now been replaced by a BAe.146 called the ARA - Atmospheric Research Aircraft. Far less dramatic looks, but interesting possibilities, none the less.



http://www.faam.ac.uk/

[B777LR]

There is this beautiful UAV Predator kit out there in 1/72 (I forget the manufacturer) and NASA roundels (available at Hannants).  However that's just too easy.

The Predator is by Italeri.

[Mossie]

Vickers Varsity from the Meterological Research Flight to accompany Weavers 'Snoopy' above.


Dassault Falcon of the German DLR


Myasishchev M-55, originally conceived as as high altitude recce aircraft, has now been adopted as a research aircraft.


WB-47E, originally a B-47 & quite capable of creating it's own weather, i.e. sunshine....


Rutan Proteus, can be be kitted out for mutiple missions, including research, weapons & flight system testing & recce

[Mossie]

Global Hawk & Darkstar UAV's, a pair that might well be fitted out for meterological research in the future.

[dragon]

There is this beautiful UAV Predator kit out there in 1/72 (I forget the manufacturer) and NASA roundels (available at Hannants).  However that's just too easy.

The Predator is by Italeri.

Now I remember, it is the Accurate Miniatures kit I was thinking of.

[Mossie]

An interesting one, a T-28 Trojan modified as a Storm Chaser.  Unusual, in that it rqeuired armouring when converting from a military to civilian role.  It was used to fly directly into the heart of a severe storm & needed an armoured canopy, leading edges & engine cowl to protect it from tennis ball sized hail.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Lindberg's 1/48th scale SM-62 Snark might be an excellent subject for modification to a remote sensing UAV.  It is large enough to carry the sensors and sufficient fuel to allow it to loiter for a very long time at high altitude. 

[dy031101]

Didn't the British outfit their VC-10 tankers with air sampling pods following the North Korean nuke test?