Country of origin:

Australia

Description:

Two-seat light touring, training and surveillance aircraft

Power Plant:

(SB-7L-360A)

One 125 kw (168 hp) Lycoming O-360-B2C (flat rated) four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

The Sentinel was designed for Seabird Aviation Australia of Pialba, QLD for eventual manufacture for domestic and export markets, the designers being Messrs C W Whitney and D Adams.  Built at a facility at Hervey Bay airport, the type entered production in 1991. The Sentinel was the Company’s first foray into the fully certified field, having previously been involved in the ultralight field, producing the SB-1 Rouseabout, and a two-seat derivative known as the SB-1 Bushranger.  The Sentinel was designed and built to FAA FAR.23 light aircraft status and the prototype, VH-SBI (c/n 89001), made its first flight (36 minutes) on 1 October 1989 at Hervey Bay, being powered by a Lycoming O-235 engine.  After testing and development flying, it was withdrawn from service in August 2004.

The series was aimed at the surveillance, training, or observation markets, and combined helicopter visibility with short field and slow-flying performance. It was available for civil or military markets.  Construction was basically all-metal with some Kevlar used on the forward fuselage skin.  The Norton rotary engine was initially installed in the prototype but problems encountered with this unit turned the design team to the Emdair CF-112 two-cylinder engine, also providing 67 kw (90 hp).  Later, after some testing, it was decided to install the Lycoming O-360 series engine.

The second prototype (c/n 002) was a static test frame.  The Sentinel was initially to be produced in two variants, the SB-5E with the Emdair unit and the SB-5N with the Norton unit.  The third prototype VH-SBU (c/n 90-003) made its first flight in 1990 and was withdrawn from service in August 2004.  Standard fuel capacity was 115 litres (25 Imp gals) but optional tanks lifted this to 192 litres (42 Imp gals); and a three-blade electric controllable propeller was to be optional.

A fourth aircraft (c/n 91-004) became VH-ZIG, and was known as the SB-7 Seeker. It differed from earlier models in having four-seats and an 88 kw (118 hp) Lycoming O-235L engine.  This necessitated some re-design, the cabin being 30 cm (11.8 in) longer and 5 cm (1.96 in) wider, and empty weight was increased.  This aircraft later became JY-SEE with Seabird Aviation Jordan following an agreement whereby it would be produced in the KADDB Jordan facility supplying aircraft to the northern hemisphere whilst the Australian facility would build aircraft for this region.  The fifth aircraft, completed in 1992, became the SB-7L Seeker (c/n 92-005 VH-OPT), later going to Jordan where it initially became JY-SEA, and later YI-101 in Iraq.  The sixth aircraft VH-SBO (c/n 02-006) later became YI-102 with the Iraq Army.

The definitive production aircraft was produced in two main models: the SB-7L-235 with the Lycoming O-235 engine, and the SB-7L-360 with the Lycoming O-360L unit, the first example of the latter flying in 1993.  During that year well-known Australian aviatrix Gaby Kennard flew a Seeker around Australia, flying the 13,000 km (8,078 miles) in 96 flying hours.

During 1993 the SB-7L-360 received its full FAR 23 Certification. One example was exported to Malaysia, and in October 1995 trials were carried out with the Australian Army for operation as an airborne surveillance platform.  Production of the SB-7-360B included JY-SEI (c/n SAJ 06001); unregistered (c/n SAJ 06002); N94399 (c/n 07009); VH-SUA (c/n 070010); VH-SBO (c/n 070011); and SB-7L-360A VH-SZS (c/n 70012) in late 2007, the latter being cancelled from the Civil Aircraft Register in December 2015.

As noted above, in 2003 an example (JY-SEE – c/n 91004) was exported to a new company formed in Jordan, Seabird Aviation Jordan, following a deal which meant the type would be produced in the KADDB Jordan facility supplying aircraft to the northern hemisphere whilst the Australian facility would build aircraft for this region.  Production commenced in Jordan in 2004, the first military aircraft in the series being supplied to the new Iraq Air Force, the first two aircraft, Australian built, being handed over on 29 July 2004 and delivered by USAF C-130H to Basrah Air Base on 18 August that year, being camouflaged and carrying Iraqi markings. They entered service as YI-001 and YI-002 and have been used for pipeline and power-line inspection and protection.

Further examples were expected to be supplied to the Iraqi Air Force but in the result no further aircraft were supplied and the contract was cancelled. The SAMA CH-2000 was supplied instead.  The Jordanian Air Force received examples and production of the type took place at Hervey Bay, QLD, in Jordan, and at a new facility set up in 2007 at Albuquerque in New Mexico, USA.

In more recent times the war in Iraq showed the vulnerability of platoons of army personnel to ambushes and convoys to roadside bombs. The use of rugged, slow, short take-off and landing aircraft for convoy protection came to the fore, the Seeker providing good low-speed handling, endurance, payload, and excellent field of view.  Design authority for the type was still held in Australia but all development, including supplemental type certification, was then held in Jordan.  The engine had been de-rated to 125 kw (168 hp) so the aircraft could operate on unleaded automotive gasoline and all production aircraft then had a Hoffman propeller which added 18 km/h (10 mph) to cruising speed.

Future plans included 20 G crash-worthy seats, cabin armour using advanced materials more resilient than Kevlar to protect the crew from small arms fire, and a lightweight flare dispenser for defence against man-portable surface-to-air missiles.  Although the aircraft carried no offensive weapons, there was provision for two under-wing hardpoints and consideration was given to the installation of a ballistic recovery parachute.  The Seeker was evaluated by the US Department of Defence for the reconnaissance / surveillance role.

Development of the series continued, including a larger four-seat variant called the Stormer fitted with a Rolls Royce (Allison) 250 turboprop engine, a Soloy gearbox, and using the wings from the PZL Wilga series built in Poland.  It would have tandem seating for two, a chin turret below the nose with a sensor package, pylons for gun pods, bombs or rocket launchers on the wings.  In 2009 a Seabird was fitted with a Cineflex V14 gyro-stabilised high-definition camera system, this necessitating some redesign of the fuselage structure to allow clearance for the 35.5 cm (14 in) diameter gimballs.

In February 2011 the Company announced an upgrade project for the Seeker, introducing a range of structural upgrades as well as changing the engine to a Lycoming IO-390-A1B6 to improve ‘hot and high’ performance, as well as the ability to mount dual alternators.  The second alternator was independently to supply power to the installed sensor suites, and was able to better accommodate larger sensor suites, the max take-off weight being increased.  This model had a glass cockpit as standard featuring a Garmin G-500 Electronic Flight Display, an L3-Trilogy ESI-2000 Electronic Standby Instrument, and twin Garmin GNS-430W GPS Navigators.  Also installed was a GTS-330ES Transponder, a Garmin GMA-347 Audio Panel, a STEC-55X Autopilot and Yaw Damper, a GSR-56 Satellite based Weather System and a GTS-800 Traffic Advisor System.

Engine management was by an Auracle CRM-2100 Digital Engine Management System, and web-based aircraft tracking was by an IndigoSat One Satellite Tracking System.  It was fully IFR-certified and external lighting was changed to LEDs.  Flight testing of this new model commenced in mid-2011, with the first two production aircraft being delivered to Queensland electricity provider, Ergon Energy, which used the aircraft to survey its powerline network.

Production continued and on 3 March 2011 an SB-7L-360A, the 15th aircraft completed, became VH-SZF (c/n 070015) registered to Seabird Aviation, followed by VH-EQN (c/n 070016) and VH-EQO (c/n 070017) in June 2011 to Seabird Aviation, both being the same model as VH-SZF.  Later c/n 070014 was sent to subsidiary Seabird Aviation America in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  In December 2014 VH-OPV (c/n 070009) was registered to the manufacturer.

In early 2014 Seabird Aviation was acquired by US-based Seeker Aviation, this deal coinciding with negotiations for the sale of 25 Seekers fitted out for surveillance work for the US Government, the aircraft then to be transferred to Yemen to be used in connection with operations against local terrorists.  The aircraft were aimed at working alongside a number of armed Air Tractor AT-802s, all aircraft to be flown by local pilots.  Transfer of the production line to the US was expected to take place late in 2015.

In May 2013 it was announced the US Navy was considering buying twelve SB-7L-360A Seeker light single-engine observation aircraft with electro-optical and infrared sensors, and downlink systems, to be supplied to the Government of Yemen.  The project was managed by the US Navy Counter Networks and Illicit Trafficking Project Office, which was described as working with the US partner nations to “deter criminal and terrorist networks and illicit trafficking activities” and tackle “rapid response and irregular warfare challenges” anywhere in the world. Delivery of the aircraft was expected to commence in September 2014.

The US Navy was seeking congressional approval to buy 25 Seekers, the manned surveillance aircraft to supplement four RQ-11 Raven UAVs which the Navy had acquired for Yemen in 2012.  The aircraft were to have an encrypted Harris Falcon III downlink system.  They were to be supported by four ground stations with video capability and the US Central Command was to be responsible for training 24 pilots and 24 sensor operators for the aircraft.  As far as can be ascertained this project did not go ahead and no aircraft were obtained for Yemen.

In recent years a number of Seekers have been operated in the United States on sales demonstrations with Government entities, but after completing FAA validation flights, examples were shipped to the United States where they were re-assembled and sold as Part 23 certified aircraft.  Two variants were available in the US, the SB-7L-360A and the more powerful SB-7L-360A2, both using the Lycoming IO-360 engine.

In early 2016 Seeker Aircraft announced it would be establishing a production line in the United States for the SB-7L piston engined aircraft to accommodate growing demand, the aircraft to be built in Portland, Oregon by Erickson, the company which converted the ex-military S-64 Aircrane heavy lift helicopter for fire bombing.  Seeker’s US manager in Albuquerque, New Mexico, stated the Company would be better able to serve the growing markets of North, Central and South America, as well as Europe and Africa.  In development since 1993, Seekers have been supplied to operators in Australia, Jordan, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates and the USA.

In 2006 a Jordanian built aircraft (JY-SEI) was supplied to South Africa.  In 2004 the Paramount Group ordered five from Seabird Aviation of Jordan with an option on a further five.  Paramount then became the distributor of the type for western, central, southern and East Africa, as well as Central Asia.  Four of the aircraft ended up with the Ghana Police Service and the fifth was used as a demonstrator, later being operated in South Africa (ZS-SEE) for patrolling the Kruger National Park to prevent rhinoceros poaching, the aircraft having been obtained by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation for this purpose.  This aircraft was unveiled at a ceremony at Skukuza airport in April 2012.

An example has been operated by the New Mexico State Police, four have been supplied to the Ghana Police Service, which were obtained via South Africa, six have been operated in Jordan in the reconnaissance role, and the Tanzanian People’s Defence Air Wing. These aircraft were  operated with an electro-optical/infra-red sensor turret for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, receiving the serials JW-9701 to JW-9704.

In April 2018 Seabird Aircraft announced the Seeker would be available for purchase from aircraft dealer Ecolpha Services based in Accra, Ghana, this following an expansion effort by the Company into Africa and the Middle East, Ecolpha being involved in marketing, sales and services in the sub-Sahara, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

By 2019 production had concluded in Australia. A number of the early Australian-built Seabird Aviation aircraft were retired and, with photographs and records relating to its operation, donated to the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra.