Ravens support U.S., Iraqi forces

Photo By Staff Sgt. Ruth McClary | Spc. Benjamin England, of Bluefield W. Va., holds a radio-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle called the "Raven." The lightweight radio-controlled plane is used to take aerial photographs and video for joint missions by U.S. and Iraqi forces. England, of 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, is a Headquarters Troop systems operator but he enjoys the dual role of operating the Raven for squadron missions here in Iraq. The National Guard squadron in based out of Bluefield, W. Va.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

08.15.2009

Story by Spc. Ruth McClary 

30th Armored Brigade Combat Team

BAGHDAD — It's not a bird — it's a not really a plane — it's a military unmanned aerial vehicle sporting a bird's name.

The radio-controlled "Raven" covers joint missions for U.S. and Iraqi forces in the 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron's area of operations southwest of Baghdad.

The Raven, a five-pound radio controlled plane, is made of Styrofoam with a tough Kevlar covering, similar to that in a Soldier's helmet, and is equipped with two cameras to record and photograph aerial view prints of sites for joint U.S. and Iraqi missions.

"We support the Iraqi army in cache searches and in suspicious areas where they don't have a full view from the ground," said Spc. Benjamin England, of Bluefield W. Va., a Raven operator.

England and Spc. Johnny Provins, of Fairmont, W. Va., are the squadron's two Raven operators, which operates under the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team.

"When we received the Ravens, I volunteered to go with the first group in training," said England. "I am the only trained operator in Headquarters Troop but each of the other troops has two assigned operators."

England spends his days working in the tactical operations center as a systems operator, yet he is always willing to fly the Raven whenever the opportunity arises. Provins is the Troop C commander's driver, but he has flown the plane for a couple of joint missions in the squadron's area of operations.

"We flew over the Yusifiyah marketplace to show the Iraqi army how the plane works," said Provins. "They got aerial photos of the area and we got in some flight hours."

The operators spent two weeks training to fly the Raven, and they have to meet certain Federal Aviation Administration flight requirements every 30 to 60 days to maintain their certifications.

The small plane can be assembled in about five minutes and is made to disassemble itself upon impact during landing.

"There is cushion on the bottom and the trick is to try to land it on that cushion," said England. "I never really get tired of watching it land; it's like a cartoon watching it fly apart."

The cost of the entire Raven system is about $250,000, with the aircraft alone running about $37,000 of that. Still, it's a small price to pay if its imagery helps save the life of even one Soldier.

• Date Taken: 08.15.2009
• Date Posted: 08.17.2009 07:05
• Story ID: 37568
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ