Exposure to New Systems: C-Astral Bramor ppX and M600 Alternative

This past week our lab group visited one of Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resource's properties, the Martel Forest, for an aircraft demonstration. Martel is a large forestry research site on the outskirts of West Lafayette, IN and a potential test site for extended UAS research operations. The aircraft demonstration was conducted by staff of Menet Aero, a UAS operations consulting firm. Menet Aero brought their Bramor ppX aircraft, developed by C-Astral Aerospace, as well as a custom built large hexacopter. I was fortunate to work with Peter Menet, the CEO and founder of Menet Aero, to set up his field equipment and help prepare the demonstration aircraft for flight. Joining the class, was Marko Peljhan, the CEO of C-Astral aircraft. Ultimately, the lab activity was a fantastic way to interact with industry and be introduced to aircraft we will likely have access in the department this year.

Menet Aero's field station and ground equipment

The above three images are of the C-Astral Bramor ppX on its launch catapult 

Preparing the large hexacopter build for flight. This aircraft is custom designed to have the same performance of the DJI Matrice 600 but without the airspace geo-fencing. This allows the aircraft to operate in critical infrastructure, controlled airspace, or TFR environments.