General Atomics Altus

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems · United States · first flew 1996 · reconnaissance aircraft

The General Atomics Altus was an unmanned high-altitude long-endurance research aircraft developed from the Predator airframe for NASA and DARPA science missions, capable of sustained flight at altitudes above 50,000 feet. It served as a platform for atmospheric science and remote sensing payloads.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.19 m fuselage
T — Tail	V-tail

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

High-altitude long-endurance unmanned research aircraft derived from Predator
Single piston engine with turbocharger for high-altitude performance
Inverted V-tail identical to Predator family

Essentially a Predator airframe with a more powerful turbocharged engine installation and identical inverted V-tail; sensor pods may vary by mission.

Specifications

The General Atomics Altus has a length of 7.19 m (24 ft).
It has a wingspan of 16.85 m (55 ft).
Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1996, the Altus I and Altus II were operated under NASA contracts to gather atmospheric data and test sensor systems. The Altus II featured a two-stage turbocharger to achieve higher altitudes and was used in several scientific campaigns in the late 1990s and 2000s.

Variants

Two aircraft built: Altus I (single-stage turbocharger) and Altus II (two-stage turbocharger for higher altitude ceiling).

Where you'll see it

Operated by NASA and General Atomics for research purposes; not a military or commercial type. Both aircraft have been retired.

Related aircraft

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