A Monrovia Firm’s Tiny Planes Have Growing Clout

September 10, 2008

AeroVironment Inc.'s Unmanned Spy Craft Become Vital Reconnaissance Tools on the Battlefield Standing amid a grove of pepper plants in Thousand Oaks last week, Christopher Thompson revved up his plane's tiny 6-inch propeller and then gently tossed it into the sky, much as weekend hobbyists fly their airborne toys. But this mini-aircraft called the Raven, weighing little over 4 pounds and painted in Army gray, is no ordinary model. It is actually a tiny U.S. military spy plane that can hover quietly 500 feet in the air and transmit video images to operators several miles away. These Simi Valley-made planes are providing vital information to ground combat soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan who want to know what's happening over the ridge and around the bend. Read More

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