Maintenance and Modifications
Wildhorse Helicopters Bell 47 Gets Full NVG Treatment
Modification helps company complete UAV delivery flight testing
Wildhorse Helicopters Bell 47 helicopter
A Wildhorse Helicopters Bell 47 helicopter modified for night-vision-goggle operations © Aviation Specialties Unlimited

Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) has modified the flight instruments and avionics of a Bell 47 helicopter to be compatible with night-vision goggles (NVGs). The Bell 47 is one of three owned and operated by Wildhorse Helicopters and is used for NVG-based UAV delivery test flights.

The testing is designed to record camera images of UAV flights and deliveries during realistic night operations with obstacles, according to ASU, to support perception algorithms that were developed for the UAVs. This includes training the perception system for night operations.