Cash reward still stands for missing research glider

by Gráinne Connolly

A glider used for research has been missing for over a week. 

Daniel Vagg, a worker at Parameter Space (a space science company contracted by the European Space Agency), launched a glider last year as part of research for University College Dublin.

However, unfortunately retrieval proved impossible. 

This year Daniel built a new glider with improved technology and features and it was launched on the 26th of September. 

After launching, signal was lost and GPS tracking was not available due to the lack of signal to get a proper reading on location. 

Mr Vagg believes the glider is somewhere in around the Omagh area, possibly 5-15 miles North West of the town towards Ardstraw/Castlederg direction.

The glider is worth 3 years of research personal to the scientist, as data stored contains pictures, videos, and raw data about location and speed. 

These are all things which can help Daniel analyse how it behaves in future. 

A cash reward is being offered to anyone who finds the plane and it's been reported to the PSNI as lost property. 

If looking for the glider, people can look out for a polystyrene plane, 1.6 metres in size with an orange parachute attached. 

The glider also has text on the top 'ICARO'. 

Mr Vagg added "after months of dedication, hard work and a lot of expensive tech, to have lost another glider is absolutely devastating. 

"The only thing we know is that the glider is somewhere in Omagh or Strabane districts, likely in a farmer's field that is out of or line of sight." 

Any information regarding the glider can be sent to daniel.vagg@gmail.com or Daniel's mobile: 00353 833 457 414.

Alternatively contact Q Radio - 02882245777.