last
updated 7th July 05
by 4ecotips.com
Could this be harnessed for
passenger aircraft?
AeroVironment (AV), a world leader
in the development of unmanned High-Altitude
Long-Endurance (HALE) aircraft, has
successfully completed the world’s
first liquid hydrogen powered Unmanned
Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight tests.
The fifty-foot wingspan prototype
aircraft accomplished a major milestone
in AV’s Global Observer HALE
system development. The Global Observer
prototype demonstrates the practicality
and operational robustness of the
enabling technologies and concept
of operations for the Global Observer
system.
The Global Observer HALE platform
will be able to operate at 65,000
feet for over a week with a flexible
payload-carrying capacity of up to
1,000 pounds. Using only two aircraft
in rotation, with one Global Observer
replacing the other on station once
per week, this capability will provide
seamless communication relay and remote
sensing systems at breakthrough affordability.
US Government and commercial applications
include: persistent, global, near-space
loitering capability for defense and
homeland security missions; low cost,
rapidly deployable telecommunications
infrastructure and GPS augmentation;
hurricane/storm tracking, weather
monitoring, and wildfire detection/support;
environmental monitoring, agriculture
optimization and aerial imaging/mapping
capabilities
In addition to validating the functionality
of the airplane and the propulsion
system, these flight tests demonstrated
safe and efficient hydrogen powered
flight and mobile liquid hydrogen
fueling operations, the last technology
challenge for the Global Observer
system.
With this completed milestone and
adequate funding, AV is confident
that a Global Observer system can
be deployed for U.S. government applications
within two years. The Global Observer
prototype accomplished a successful
maiden liquid hydrogen powered flight
on May 26 at the US Army’s Yuma
Proving Grounds in Arizona. It was
flown again on June 2 demonstrating
repeatable and reliable performance.
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