Aviation Specialties Unlimited Completes Bell 47 for Wildhorse Helicopters’ Unique UAV Monitoring Operations

Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU), a provider of night-vision solutions, announces that the company has completed cockpit modifications on a Bell 47. The aircraft is owned and operated by Wildhorse Helicopters, Inc. (WHH) and performs unique NVG-based flights for UAV delivery testing. 

WHH operates Bell 47 helicopters and currently has three aircraft in service. The company is owned and operated by second-generation owner Brad Wahl whose father, John Wahl, founded the company in 1979. Before taking over WHH, Wahl flew Chinooks for the U.S. Army. He has flown more than 8000 hours in the Bell 47.

“Our primary focus has been aerial application and other light utility work over the years,” says Wahl. “Since 2016, WHH has been working closely with the Pendleton Airport (PDT) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Range and has been involved with many UAS companies testing at PDT. WHH has already started NVG night operations with the help of ASU.”

With the growth of UAV and UAS, added safety measurements and testing are needed. An online delivery retail company commissioned WHH to fly alongside UAVs and record flights and deliveries in a controlled environment. The main purpose of the testing is to record camera images during realistic night-flight operations with obstacles, to support the development of various perception algorithms for the UAS platform.

“This was an intriguing project to work on,” says ASU Quality Assurance manager, James Haney. “The Bell 47G is an aircraft with a storied history dating back to the early 1950s, used for everything from a support A/C in the Korean war, to civil utilitarian use. Now it is being used to create new technology for delivery drones, which will usher in a new era of expedited deliveries for its consumer base from companies using UAS delivery methods.”

ASU was hired to modify the aircraft and add an additional layer of safety to help the pilot see any UAS platform at night and to further train that perception system for night operations.

“The UAV must be able to fly in congested airspace and avoid other aircraft. To do this, we continue to train the system’s algorithm using a manned aircraft (a Bell 47) flying in preplanned, real-world scenarios. The future plan for this platform is to be able to conduct operations at night,” says Wahl.

WHH has extensive unique mission experience and was hired for its expertise. Its missions have included:

• UAV chases
• collision and avoidance simulations (flying close to the UAV in a predetermined route so the UAV can detect the helicopter and record data),
• high-altitude observations (requiring oxygen)
• testing of specialized radar equipment
• lifting non-powered UAVs via sling load to a predetermined altitude and then releasing them for non-powered descent back to Earth.

“Thanks to all the work and support from ASU, we can continue our mission to integrate the safest and most reliable UAVs into the market. ASU is one of the best companies that I have worked with in recent memory — not only on a professional level but on a personal one as well. ASU was supportive and fully committed through the entire certification process. I truly cannot say enough good things about them,” says Wahl.

For more information, call +1 208-426-8117 or visit asu-nvg.com.