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Rome residents may have noticed an unfamiliar aircraft flying over the city. The New York Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing was showing what one of their remotely piloted aircraft can do.
Col. William McCrink, commander of the 174th Attack Wing, said he was in about second grade when he told his mother he wanted to be an Air Force pilot.
Fast forward to 2022, and McCrink now has 26 years of service in the Air Force under his belt.
“I did fly fighter aircraft for 15 years, and then I came to Syracuse in 2011 and switched to the MQ-9 aircraft,” he said.
The MQ-9 Reaper’s basic crew is made up of a rated pilot and an enlisted aircrew member to operate sensors and weapons.
The introduction of remotely piloted aircraft was a transition, but McCrink sees their value, especially as new capabilities are unveiled.
“It doesn’t replace fighter aircraft,” he said. “It doesn’t replace bomber aircraft. It augments it, and it makes us a much better fighting force.”
This is not your typical aircraft. A remotely piloted aircraft, the MQ-9 Reaper, flew successfully from Syracuse to Rome today. Col. William McCrink says the MQ-9 can be used as a skilled weapon or as a resourceful tool (such as assistance with wildfires). Here’s a peek: pic.twitter.com/7nvb0k4f6p
The MQ-9 is equipped with wide-range sensors and precision weapons that are useful for overseas missions.
The colonel said MQ-9 Reapers are also helpful at home. They can be used to monitor wildfires and help with search and rescue.
“If there was a hurricane that came through on the East Coast, we could fly overhead. We could look for either survivors or we could also do damage assessment without having to send teams into the area. Lots of capabilities. It’s endless, really, what we can do,” McCrink said.
Air National Guard members said the trip from Syracuse to Rome is believed to be the first time an MQ-9 has launched from a civilian airport and landed remotely at another civilian airport.
The colonel said the Reaper can stay in the air for about 24 hours straight.