Hood River, OR, August 2, 2013 -- Hood Tech’s new Mark 4.3 Light launcher recently launched a simulated, 90-pound UAV at more than 90 knots.

From: Hood Tech Corp Mechanical, Inc., Hood River, Oregon
Date: August 1, 2013
Subject: Hood Tech Announces Development Milestone for New UAV Launcher
Contact: Cory Roeseler, Hood Tech Corp Mechanical, Inc., 541 387-2255, [email protected]

Hood Tech announces that its Mark 4.3 Light recently demonstrated 90+ knot launch capability for a 90-pound simulated UAV. A successful series of envelope-expansion tests confirmed that design modifications to the original Mark 4 Light resulted in improvements in launch speed. “Such improvements mean better performance for our customers”, said Cory Roeseler, Chief Engineer for the launcher projects. They also mean that Hood Tech launchers can handle a broad variety of UAV sizes, from small aircraft to intermediate-sized UAVs of 90 pounds or more, depending on the necessary launch speed.

When in 2002 Hood Tech began producing innovative UAV launchers and retrieval systems for small UAVs, those innovations enabled the elimination of runways for launch and retrieval. This freed aircraft for shipboard use, for deployment in irregular or disrupted landscapes, and for other difficult locations. Showing their ruggedness and reliability, Hood Tech launchers have initiated tens of thousands of flights under the extreme environments of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and aboard ships in the oceans around the globe.

Dr. Andy von Flotow founded Hood Technology in Hood River, Oregon in 1992. In addition to the design and manufacture of launch systems, Hood Technology:

Provides zip test services for pre-flight safety verification of experimental aircraft and components.

Owns and maintains a silent wind tunnel for measuring UAV engine and prop noise in accordance with MILSTD1474.

Develops, tests, and manufactures stabilized imaging systems for a variety of UAVs
Monitors blade vibrations in industrial turbines and jet engines, a diagnostic method for predicting possible future failures.

The Hood Tech web site is: www.hoodtech.com

Contact:
Cory Roeseler
Hood Tech
3100 Cascade
Hood River, OR 97031
541-387-2255
[email protected]
http://www.hoodtech.com