Hood Tech's Mark 4 Launcher Contributes to Agile and Flexible USS Ponce The US Navy's Ponce is a flexible and

agile success, according to US Secretary of De fense Chuck Hagel, thanks to such elements as Hood Tech's Mark 4 launcher. Hood River, OR, December 18, 2013 -- The US Navy's Ponce is a flexible and agile suc cess, according to US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, thanks to such elements as Hood Tech's Mark 4 launcher. From: Hood Tech Corp Mechanical, Inc., Hood River, Oregon Date: December 17, 2013 Subject: Hood Tech's Mark 4 Launcher Contributes to Agile and Flexible USS Ponce Contact: Cory Roeseler, Hood Tech Corp Mechanical, Inc., 541 387-2255, cory@hood tech.com According to a recent report (http://www.newser.com/article/daags4fg3/hagel-tour s-warship-showcasing-us-commitment-to-gulf-region-in-wake-of-iran-deal.html) US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has called the USS Ponce as flexible and agile as any platform that we have" The USS Ponce is a former amphibious transport ship tha t was retrofitted to become a floating staging base. Featuring a popular UAV tha t employs Hood Tech's Mark 4 Launcher to become airborne, the Ponce also supports special operations warfare personnel. The Mark 4 launches UAVs in the 30-130 pound weight range. It uses corrosion-res istant components to survive the marine environment, and receives electric power either from the ship or from trailer-mounted generators (see www.hoodtechmechan ical.com). Its small footprint allows for flexible shipboard use, and the Mark 4 is extremely portable, including movement and positioning by hand. When in 2002 Hood Tech began producing innovative UAV launchers and retrieval sy stems for small UAVs, those innovations enabled the elimination of runways for l aunch and retrieval. This freed aircraft for shipboard use, for deployment in i rregular or disrupted landscapes, and for other difficult locations. Showing the ir ruggedness and reliability, Hood Tech launchers have initiated tens of thousa nds of flights under the extreme environments of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and aboard ships in the oceans around the globe. Dr. Andy von Flotow founded Hood Technology in Hood River, Oregon in 1992. In a ddition to the design and manufacture of launch systems, Hood Technology: Provides zip test services for pre-flight safety verification of experimental ai rcraft and components. Owns and maintains a silent wind tunnel for measuring UAV engine and prop noise in accordance with MILSTD1474. Develops, tests, and manufactures stabilized imaging systems for a variety of UA Vs Monitors blade vibrations in industrial turbines and jet engines, a diagnostic m ethod for predicting possible future failures. The Hood Tech web site is: www.hoodtech.com Contact: Andy von Flotow Hood Tech 135 Country Club Road, Building A

Hood River, OR 97031 541-387-2255 ken@hoodtech.com http://www.hoodtech.com