Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2020 issue
FARGO, ND – At press time, the Fargo Air Museum was set to receive an MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), which was originally a North Dakota Air National Guard aircraft, on loan from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The 119th Wing, known as the “Happy Hooligans,” operated the MQ-1 Predator from 2007 to 2018, when it was replaced with the MQ-9 Reaper.
The MQ-1 Predator is operated by a crew, consisting of a pilot and a sensor operator, from a ground control station. The aircraft stands 7 feet tall, measures 27 feet in length and has a wingspan of 48 feet 7 inches. Although equipped with surveillance technology for the primary purpose of reconnaissance, the Predator can also be armed for light attack in warzones.