Zephyr Solar-Powered Plane
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: La Belle Province
Zephyr Solar-Powered Plane
The BBC is reporting 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...
When was the last time a record setting aircraft was launched by hand, I wonder ...?
I found this quote perhaps the most odd in the article...
The plane is launched by hand....
Do a Hover - it avoids G
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Chichester West Sussex UK
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.
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: S Warwickshire
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
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
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Hampshire, UK
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
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
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Surrey Hills
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
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
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,389
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From: England
Neat 3D flying with a helicopter.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=q6F-0r...elated&search=
more..
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=af0bY4...elated&search=
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=q6F-0r...elated&search=
more..
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=af0bY4...elated&search=
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 112
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From: Hampshire, UK
Nice photo....wrong flight!
See the Qinetiq website:
http://www.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom...ephyr_uav.html
See the Qinetiq website:
http://www.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom...ephyr_uav.html
Do a Hover - it avoids G
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 2,201
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From: Chichester West Sussex UK
Wrong message
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
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
