Tag Archive for: VTOL

Event 38 Integrates CENTUM’s Lifeseeker Mini S10 on the E455 Heavy-Lift VTOL Platform

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Event 38 Unmanned Systems and CENTUM have completed the integration of the Lifeseeker Mini S10 system on Event 38’s E455 fixed-wing VTOL platform—delivering a powerful new capability for public safety, search and rescue, and mission-critical operations.

CENTUM, a product-driven company specializing in airborne technology based on mobile phone systems, developed Lifeseeker Mini as an airborne solution designed to help locate missing persons by geolocating cell phones—even in areas without network coverage. With its optimized size, weight, and power (SWaP), Lifeseeker Mini is engineered for seamless integration into drone platforms like the E455, enabling fast deployment and greater operational effectiveness in complex environments.

Expanding Mission Capability for Public Safety Agencies

Based in Richfield, Ohio, Event 38 Unmanned Systems designs and manufactures high-performance fixed-wing VTOL drones for commercial, government, and public safety customers worldwide. Since 2011, Event 38 has delivered advanced unmanned aircraft systems that capture precise, geo-tagged data to support a wide range of missions across multiple industries.

Event 38’s flagship platform, the E455, is a heavy-lift, long-endurance fixed-wing VTOL drone engineered for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), high-precision mapping, and critical infrastructure inspection. With extended flight times, secure communications, and support for advanced payload integrations, the E455 is uniquely built to meet the demanding needs of public safety and government operators around the world.

With the Lifeseeker Mini S10 now integrated, the E455 expands its mission versatility—bringing a new layer of capability to teams working to locate missing persons and respond faster in time-sensitive situations.

Built for the Realities of the Field

“This integration underlines the adaptability and mission-readiness of Lifeseeker Mini,” said Javier Chamorro, President at CENTUM. “It reinforces our commitment to making life-saving technology available through trusted, proven unmanned systems.”

“The E455 was built to support missions where reliability and capability can make all the difference,” said Jeff Taylor, CEO and Founder of Event 38. “By integrating the Lifeseeker system, we’re giving responders the ability to locate missing persons faster and operate more effectively in the field. It’s an example of how we listen to our customers and deliver solutions that truly meet their needs.”

Learn More

To learn more about the E455 platform and its mission-ready payload capabilities, contact Event 38 Unmanned Systems at sales@event38.com

Event 38 Featured in World Pipelines Magazine

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Event 38 Unmanned Systems is excited to share that our E455 drone was recently featured in World Pipelines magazine. The article showcases how the E455 is advancing BVLOS capabilities for pipeline inspections.

This recognition in a leading international publication highlights the growing role of drone technology in infrastructure monitoring and positions Event 38 at the forefront of the next generation of utility inspection solutions.

You can read the full feature on page 101 in the August edition of World Pipelines here: World Pipelines – August 2025 – Page 101

EVENT 38 ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL BVLOS PIPELINE INSPECTION DEMO WITH  FIXED-WING VTOL DRONE 

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(Richfield, Ohio) – February 12th, 2025 – Event 38 Unmanned Systems, a leading manufacturer of American-made mapping drones, announces that a successful BVLOS pipeline patrol demo has been completed using the E455, Event 38’s largest fixed-wing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone. The E455 flew 320 miles in just under 7.6 flight hours. The demo was executed by Phoenix Air Unmanned (PAU), a drone service provider that specializes in aerial inspection and surveillance for utilities. 

The demo was a proof-of-concept exercise to determine whether PAU could achieve the goal of patrolling 300 miles of pipeline, owned by Shell Pipeline Corporation, with a drone in just one day. “We woke up to a two-hour delay with fog, so we crossed the 300-mile mark at noon on the second day,” said Will Wheeler, Director of Operations, Phoenix Air Unmanned. “But our goal was achieved within a day of flying time, so it was a success.” 

Event 38 trained a team of six PAU pilots in just three days and integrated the E455 into PAU’s existing command control stations in less than a week. The demo was completed the following week. 

Wheeler credits much of the demo’s success to the user-friendly design of the E455. “Ease of use and reliability is a big deal for us. We have the foundational knowledge of how to execute BVLOS flights at scale, however we had never flown the E455 before,” he said. “We received training, the E455 was integrated, and then we were out there doing 300 miles. What will we be capable of once our whole crew has experience with this platform and it’s truly integrated into our workflow? It’s repeatable and scalable.” 

For the purposes of the demo, the E455 was outfitted with an Iris Casia 3-camera system, which is critical for BVLOS missions, two redundant radio links, and an ADS-B in, in addition to a standard live gimbaled camera. Drone communications were handed off between three ground control vans to increase efficiency, and ground control received a constant live video feed from the E455’s on-board cameras. Thanks to the E455’s bonded radio solution, the drone never lost signal with PAU. 

Even with the abundance of equipment required for a BVLOS mission, the E455 flew for up to sixty minutes on a single charge. With a standard payload, the E455 can fly for over two hours on a single charge. In optimal conditions, the E455 can travel at 50 miles per hour. speed is 50 miles per hour in optimal conditions. 

“This demo was an excellent opportunity for us to learn more about how the E455 operates in real-world scenarios and make some other modifications that will translate to a better user experience going forward,” said Mathew Wright, VP of Engineering and Operations, Event 38. 

About Event 38 Unmanned Systems: 

Event 38 designs and manufactures fixed-wing VTOL drones in Richfield, Ohio. Since 2011, we’ve sold over 500 drones to people and organizations all around the globe. Our drones capture geo-tagged data for a range of industries and applications. Event 38 drones can be customized for high-resolution aerial photogrammetry, thermal and multispectral imagery, LiDAR, and live video streaming.