Cloud seeding UAV makes first flight over Nevada to provide drought relief

Swarms of drones could soon bring relief to drought-stricken regions by'seeding' clouds to increase rainfall. In a step towards that goal, a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft has, for the first time, successfully managed to seed a cloud during a test flight in Nevada. The Savant aircraft – named the'Sandoval Silver State Seeder' – fired off two silver-iodide flares during its 18 minute flight at Hawthorne Industrial Airport. A fixed-wing unmanned aircraft has, for the first time, successfully managed to'seed' a cloud during a test flight in Nevada. The Savant aircraft – named the'Sandoval Silver State Seeder' – fired off two silver-iodide flares during its 18 minute flight at Hawthorne Industrial Airport Microscopic particles of silver iodide are shot into existing clouds using land based generators or aircraft.