Parallel Flight’s Firefly heavy-lift drone vs. Wake Island’s rats

Specialized heavy-lift drone producer Parallel Flight Technologies has been tapped by USDA Wildlife Services to adapt its Firefly UAV developed to assist firefighters for a natural wildlife preservation project aiming to eradicate a destructive population of invasive rats on Wake Island.

The operation will be carried out in conjunction with the US Air Force, which is responsible for the US-administered atoll and maintains a mid-Pacific base there. Under the plan, Parallel Flight will modify its hybrid-powered Firefly heavy-lift drone to operate long-endurance missions hauling a specialized spreader to distribute pellets made for the rat eradication objectives around Wake Island. 

If successful, the company’s UAV, which can carry 100 lb. payloads for up to two hours, will replace far more expensive and potentially dangerous helicopter flights for such efforts. 

Read: Firefly (really) heavy-lift drone boasts mega-endurance, too

The Parallel…