Aerial observer

Aerial observer

Aerial Observer- Air Force Reconnaissance.

An Aerial Observer is the functional position of gathering information visually from an airborne platform for use by military or commercial purposes. This history started when the first balloons were flown in Europe. In the early twentieth century it developed with the invention of biplanes and mono-winged aircraft.

During World War I and II there was a tremendous amount of intelligence gathered through these means. These crewmembers would use optical and photographic means to record their observations.

In the Southeast Asia war, aerial observers also might be Forward Air Controllers (FACs). These O-1 Bird Dog, O-2 Skymaster and OV-10 Bronco pilots would slowly fly over an area and direct bombing by radio to fast moving jet aircraft.

Observer is the Royal Navy's term for its Fleet Air Arm navigator/radar/weapons system operators, both in two seat fixed wing combat aircraft such as the Sea Vixen and F4K Phantom and anti-submarine helicopters such as the Westland Lynx. The US Navy's equivalent is the radar intercept officer (RIO).

Although today sometimes a manned aircraft is still utilized, industry and the military use both satellites and remotely piloted vehicles (RPV) for this function.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Aerial perspective — or atmospheric perspective is the effect on the appearance of an object by the atmosphere between it and a viewer (or the technique of depicting this effect in a work of art, such as a landscape painting). As the distance between an object and a… …   Wikipedia

  • Observer Badge — The Observer Badge is a military badge of the United States military which dates to the First World War. The badge was issued to co pilots, navigators, and flight support personnel who had received a variation on the training necessary for the… …   Wikipedia

  • Aerial (album) — Infobox Album Name = Aerial Type = studio Artist = Kate Bush Released = November 2005 Recorded = 1999–2005 Genre = Alternative rock, art rock, pop rock Length = 80:19 Label = EMI Producer = Kate Bush Reviews = * Rolling Stone Rating|4|5… …   Wikipedia

  • Aerial Experiment Association — The Aerial Experiment Association (AEA) was a Canadian aeronautical research group formed on 30 September 1907, under the tutelage of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. [Milberry, 1979. p 12 13.] According to Bell, it was a co operative scientific… …   Wikipedia

  • Aerial photographic and satellite image interpretation — Photographic Interpretation can be defined as: “the act of examining photographic images for the purpose of identifying objects and judging their significance” (Colwell, 1997). Principles of image interpretation have been developed empirically… …   Wikipedia

  • Royal Observer Corps — Ensign Active 1925–1996 Country …   Wikipedia

  • Unmanned aerial vehicle — UAV redirects here. For the entertainment company, see UAV Corp.. For the veterans organization, see Ukrainian American Veterans. A group photo of aerial demonstrators at the 2005 Naval Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Air Demo. An unmanned aerial vehicle …   Wikipedia

  • Marine Aerial Navigator insignia — The Marine Aerial Navigator insignia is a military badge of the United States Marine Corps that is issued to Marine Corps enlisted personnel who complete flight training as a navigator on board Marine Corps aircraft. The Marine Aerial Navigator… …   Wikipedia

  • Confirmation and overclaiming of aerial victories during World War II — In aerial warfare, the term overclaiming describes a combatant (or group) that claims the destruction of more enemy aircraft than actually achieved. The net effect is that the actual losses and claimed victories are unequal. Honest overclaiming… …   Wikipedia

  • Premios de la Wrestling Observer Newsletter — Anexo:Premios de la Wrestling Observer Newsletter Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Ésta es una lista de premios que otorga la Wrestling Observer Newsletter, tanto actuales como inactivos. Los premios son dados anualmente, diferenciándose en varias… …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”