Morgan AR4 V-TOL Aerial Reconnaissance Vehicle

The Morgan AR4 is unique in that it possesses the ability to take off or land from a vertical position and smoothly translate that movement from the vertical plane to the horizontal. A rear propulsion system mounted on a pivoting wing assembly provides precise directional thrust control. This system enables the vehicle to take off from and land in very small areas much like a helicopter, but it also affords it a very high forward flight airspeed.

Four Pratt and Whitney Turbine engines deliver a total of 48,000 pounds of thrust and can propell the craft at speeds in excess of 1800 miles per hour in forward flight. Although the engines are capable of producing incredible amounts of thrust, the vehicle is fairly fuel efficient and has a maxiumum range of 3000 miles.

Equipped with a wide range of sensitive survellance equipment, the vehicle is capable of hovering in near silence. It also has night vision capabilities, and imaging equipment that is capable of advanced image processing (see image left for an example of a night shot at 8 miles away). This sophisticated optics system coupled with a high speed communciations link allows the vehicle to serve as a command center and transmit realtime telemetry and intelligence data to mutliple ground and air units. It can also track and laser-designate targets for smart ordinace and weapon systems.

The AR4 can carry up to 3 crew, a pilot, and a navigator. It also has fully autonomous capability, relying on its sophisticated optics and radar system as well as GPS for navigation. This capability allows the vehicle to fly in dangerous situations without dangering a human crew.

Out of the 800 AR4 vehicles produced, 650 are still in service. Sixteen are still in active duty in the ADPolice.