Strange (to me) UAV sighting in So Cal

Sam D

Sam D

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Sam D
Last week, I was flying back from Las Vegas. At 8,500ft, somewhere around the Daggett VOR (south of the MOA), Joshua Approach calls out traffic to me. I didn't hear their whole call and saw the traffic before I had them repeat the call. I see two aircraft in loose formation -- a UAV in front and a 172/182 trailing at about my altitude. Once we had passed each other, I think Joshua's call to the other aircraft might have been "UAV1, traffic no factor".

This seemed strange to me as I'd never seen a UAV, let along one in formation with another plane.

Has anyone seen traffic like this?

P.S. Assuming it was a UAV as it had an inverted V-tail on the back and generally looked weird! :)
 
Sam D said:
Last week, I was flying back from Las Vegas. At 8,500ft, somewhere around the Daggett VOR (south of the MOA), Joshua Approach calls out traffic to me. I didn't hear their whole call and saw the traffic before I had them repeat the call. I see two aircraft in loose formation -- a UAV in front and a 172/182 trailing at about my altitude. Once we had passed each other, I think Joshua's call to the other aircraft might have been "UAV1, traffic no factor".

This seemed strange to me as I'd never seen a UAV, let along one in formation with another plane.

Has anyone seen traffic like this?

P.S. Assuming it was a UAV as it had an inverted V-tail on the back and generally looked weird! :)
Click to expand...

I've never come across one but it's my understanding that the current procedures involve a light plane escort when they're flying a UAV outside of restricted airspace.
 
Sam D said:
Last week, I was flying back from Las Vegas. At 8,500ft, somewhere around the Daggett VOR (south of the MOA), Joshua Approach calls out traffic to me. I didn't hear their whole call and saw the traffic before I had them repeat the call. I see two aircraft in loose formation -- a UAV in front and a 172/182 trailing at about my altitude. Once we had passed each other, I think Joshua's call to the other aircraft might have been "UAV1, traffic no factor".

This seemed strange to me as I'd never seen a UAV, let along one in formation with another plane.

Has anyone seen traffic like this?

P.S. Assuming it was a UAV as it had an inverted V-tail on the back and generally looked weird! :)
Click to expand...

Standard Ops.. you should have seen it in the NOTAMs for UAVs in the area.
 
mbundy said:
Not uncommon in that area. Alot of UAV testing originates out of Gray Butte Airfield. It's a closed/private field about 20 miles to the west of Victorville. Everytime I've flown over it I've seen UAV's parked on the ramp.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...11,-117.677479&spn=0.032549,0.037293&t=h&z=15

Very convenient that Google Maps doesn't show any UAV's around...Hmmm...
Click to expand...

Are those 2 "censor" boxes on the diagonal runway/taxiway? I've never seen those before on google maps.
 
schmookeeg said:
Are those 2 "censor" boxes on the diagonal runway/taxiway? I've never seen those before on google maps.
Click to expand...


Sensor boxes? Looks more like shade shelters to me. The "centerlines" coming out of each that merge with the taxiway centerline kinda give that away..
 
Doggtyred said:
Sensor boxes? Looks more like shade shelters to me. The "centerlines" coming out of each that merge with the taxiway centerline kinda give that away..
Click to expand...

Not those, the other two.

Here's what I see:

censor.png
 
mbundy said:
Not uncommon in that area. Alot of UAV testing originates out of Gray Butte Airfield. It's a closed/private field about 20 miles to the west of Victorville. Everytime I've flown over it I've seen UAV's parked on the ramp.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...11,-117.677479&spn=0.032549,0.037293&t=h&z=15

Very convenient that Google Maps doesn't show any UAV's around...Hmmm...
Click to expand...
It also could have been an Air National Guard Predator out of Southern California Logistics Airport (KVCV).
 
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