Byron Howle, a 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron contractor with Florida Offshore, secures a rope as the vessel leaves the docks July 22 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The boat is just one of only three 120-foot sea vessels owned by the Air Force used to recover sub-scale drones called BQM-167s after live fire exercises over the gulf. The ships recover approximately 25 of the $800,000 drones each year. (Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
Byron Howle helps diver Ray Gallien to secure the connect the BQM-167 sub-scale drone during a recovery demonstration March 26 in the waters off of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The ship used for recovery is one of only three 120-foot boats owned by the Air Force. They are contracted from Florida Offshore through the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron to help recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down during live fire exercises conducted by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. (Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
Byron Howle directs the crane movements to pick up the model BQM-167 sub-scale drone during a recovery demonstration July 22 in the waters off of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The ship used for recovery is one of only three 120-foot boats owned by the Air Force. They are contracted from Florida Offshore through the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron to help recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down during live fire exercises conducted by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. (Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
The crew from Florida Offshore steadies and lowers the BQM-167 sub-scale drone to the cradle after a recovery demonstration July 22 in the waters off of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The ship used for recovery is one of only three 120-foot boats owned by the Air Force. They are contracted from Florida Offshore through the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron to help recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down during live fire exercises conducted by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. (Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)
The crew from Florida Offshore prepare for a recovery demonstration July 22 in the waters off of Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The ship used for recovery is one of only three 120-foot boats owned by the Air Force. They are contracted from Florida Offshore through the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron to help recover sub-scale drones after they are shot down during live fire exercises conducted by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. (Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)