Northrop Grumman and the Navy successfully flew the second MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter for the first time this week. Conducted at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, Calif., the flight will allow the team to ramp up testing efforts to prepare the system for operations. Current tests are focused on validating the flight capabilities of the MQ-8C before ship-based flights take place this summer. The MQ-8C, based on a Bell 407 airframe, will eventually replace the MQ-8B that uses a Schweizer (now Sikorsky) airframe. The MQ-8C is larger, has a range of 150 nautical miles and a payload capacity of more than 700 pounds. The first MQ-8C had its first flight in October 2013. Both the B and C versions are built in part in Moss Point, Miss. (Source: Northrop Grumman, 02/13/14)