New Pipistrel Virus SW will be used for the Military University of Technology research

The Military University of Technology (MUT, orig.: Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna im. Jarosława Dąbrowskiego) in Warsaw, Poland ordered a brand new Pipistrel aircraft, which will be used for the university research.

The handover of the aircraft to the Military University of Technology took place on June 18, 2021 at the airport in Milewo. It was attended, among others, by dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy of the MUT, Col. prof. dr. hab. Eng. Michał Kędzierski and the official Pipistrel aircraft distributor in Poland, Mr Krzysztof Będkowski of Skydream Sp. z.o.o.

The aircraft Pipistrel Virus SW has been specially modified for the purpose of joint scientific research by the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, the Faculty of Mechatronics, Armaments and Aviation, and the Institute of Optoelectronics. It will be used for various research, among others in the field of remote sensing, aerial photography and photogrammetry. It will use various types of cameras and lidars, developed by the Institute of Optoelectronics and built into a specially prepared container at the bottom of aircraft fuselage.

This is another Virus SW in Poland with a modification that allows the installation of a special-equipment container under the plane. It can be loaded with a load of up to 40 kg.

It can be equipped with laser scanners, hyperspectral and thermal imaging cameras, and cameras for taking aerial photos.

The maximum take-off weight of the aircraft (MTOW) is 600 kg, and thanks to almost 200-liter fuel tanks, the aircraft can perform missions lasting up to twelve hours.
A radio station, a Mode-S transponder with ADS-B Out, a glass-cockpit Dynon SkyView, an additional alternator, an autopilot system, an anti-collision device and a parachute rescue system were installed on board the aircraft. Thanks to such equipment, the performance of missions will be safe and convenient, stated the university.

“Thanks to this equipment of the aircraft, we will be able to conduct research at the Military University of Technology, focusing on supporting crisis management by collecting, processing and analyzing up-to-date geodata and products developed on their basis,” emphasized the dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Col. Prof. dr hab. Eng. Michał Kędzierski.

Together with the aircraft, the Pipistrel distributor team in Poland will offer pilot familiarization to the pilots of the Military University of Technology, and the mechanics will receive training in the field of maintenance.

Sources:
https://skydream.pl/wojskowa-akademia-techniczna-wybrala-samolot-virus-sw.html
https://geoforum.pl/news/31017/wat-kupuje-samolot-do-celow-teledetekcyjnych
https://www.wat.edu.pl/aktualnosci/samolot-virus-sw-posluzy-do-badan-naukowcyh/