Innovative Florida SAR unit builds their own drone for search missions

If you're interested in learning more about how drones—or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—can be used by a SAR team like yours, check out what the Peace River K9 Search & Rescue Association (PRSAR) of Englewood, Florida is up to.

For months, I've been following their progress in building a drone from scratch and it's pretty cool.

They're putting together a multi-mission-capable SAR UAS X81 aerial recon platform equipped with a live feed video-and-mapping camera.

In addition to chronicling the weekly progress of their new drone SAR unit, their Facebook page is one of the best portals into the world of drones that I've come across to date. These guys and gals are on the cutting edge. Check them out here. 

Here's a few shots of Peace River's SAR UAS X81 drone being prepped on its launcher by Richard Hyland, a K9 handler and private pilot with PRSAR. Photos courtesy of Michael Hadsell, a commercial-rated pilot and administrator of PRSAR's Facebook page.