Zephyr Solar-Powered Plane

[Mad (Flt) Scientist]

The BBC is reporting (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6916309.stm) that Qinetiq's Zephyr solar panel powered plane has made flights of 54 and 33 hours duration, and that the latter might be an FAI record.

I found this quote perhaps the most odd in the article...
The plane is launched by hand....

When was the last time a record setting aircraft was launched by hand, I wonder ...?

[galaxy flyer]

MfS:

Every flight is "launched by hand"-the mitts of the yoke actuators. That is, pilots or whatever they call UAV operators. :E

GF

[John Farley]

Yes a check of the QinetiQ site and their PR pics clearly shows that the aircraft is hand launched. Three guys are shown just after they have let it go and there may be a fourth judging by a shadow on the RHS. There is no sign of gear but some nice stands that held the aircraft before the crew picked it up for launch are in the foreground.

[Mark 1]

The record being claimed is in FAI category F8, which is effectively for model aircraft.

The previous holder was also hand launched I believe. It lost the record for 38 hours airborne, but still retains the straight line distance having flown across the Atlantic.

Hand launching does avoid the encumbrance of an undercarriage.

See http://records.fai.org/documents.asp?from=model&id=7882

[smithgd]

Actually it is two records:

1) The absolute flight duration for Class U (UAV's)
2) The max altitude for Class U1.b Group 2 (UAV, Remotly Controlled, 5kg to 50Kg, Electric)

See : http://records.fai.org/claims.asp?id=u


Cheers
smithgd

[aviate1138]

This is off thread I know but..... Just to relax you professionals for a few moments and
to admire someone's hand eye co-ordination. :) Electric but not solar powered. Maybe a job for him in a hut in the Mohave desert?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gulv_bvZS94

[cwatters]

Very good but I've seen someone do consecutive rolling circles with a model helicopter...flying backwards.

[cwatters]

Neat 3D flying with a helicopter.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=q6F-0rIpLJE&mode=related&search=

more..

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=af0bY4Cvej8&mode=related&search=

[John Farley]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/johnfarley/Zephyr20launch2pprune.jpg

[cwatters]

Nice photo, thanks.

[smithgd]

Nice photo....wrong flight!
See the Qinetiq website:
http://www.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom/news_releases_homepage/2007/3rd_quarter/qinetiq_s_zephyr_uav.html

[John Farley]

smithgd

On the contrary. The picture I posted was to best show the hand-launch technique that MFS was remarking about. It was not posted as a picture of the record flight.

JF

[smithgd]

JF

OK fair enough....but in that case the pic at the bottom of the Qinetiq article covers it as well :)

smithgd