PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Hi
The previous postings give the impression that the first UAV crossing of the North Atlantic was a model aircraft flown Canada to Ireland
The first Atlantic crossing by unmanned aircraft flew 3270 km in 26h 45m from Newfoundland to SCOTLAND (20-21 August 1998)
The Aerosonde weather-reconnaissance aircraft departed Bells Island Newfoundland landed on South Uist in the Scottish Hebrides, becoming the first unmanned aircraft (and, at only 13.2 kg takeoff weight, by far the smallest aircraft) ever to have crossed the Atlantic.
Flight was conducted by The Insitu Group and the University of Washington to demonstrate the emerging possibilities for long-range operations by miniature aircraft of this type.sponsored in part by the US Office of Naval Research, L3 Communications, and Boeing. The aerosonde is now in the collection of the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle.
The original plan of landing in Ireland had to be changed because the Irish Aviation Authority required enroute position reporting, and this could not be provided without satellite communications. However the Canadian and UK authorities, after being satisfied with a set of safety provisions in the aircraft, issued special permissions.
The Aerosonde named Laima flew most of the route at 1680 m (5500 ft) altitude, staying just below oceanic controlled airspace in order to remain clear of ICAO controlled airspace. Then for the final 150-odd km she flew low over the sea to qualify, under UK regulations, as a model aircraft!
Laima's route and altitude profile were programmed onboard the aircraft prior to takeoff; the Newfoundland ground station lost contact about half an hour after launch; and the Hebrides station picked her up 48 km offshore about half an hour before landing.a gallon and a half of aviation gasoline.
The Aerosonde design was still at a prototype stage,and failures were not uncommon, Four aircraft were readied for crossing attempts. Laima was the only one of them to succeed,. three were lost at sea. Piper went down just after takeoff because of a software fault, while Trumper and Millionaire are presumed to have had mechanical failures somewhere over the Atlantic. Piper was recovered and the engine used to be displayed at Shanwick.