Date: 19 November, 2007
The Boeing Company successfully completed a 12-hour test flight of its A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft on 12/10/07, recording the aircraft's longest flight to date.
The A160T took off at 6:27 a.m. Pacific near Victorville, Calif., and landed 12.1 hours later at 6:32 p.m. The aircraft carried a 500-pound payload at an altitude of 5,000 feet, simulating a multi-sensor operational mission.
“The flight used less than 60% of the aircraft's maximum fuel, demonstrating the advantages of the A160's design, including its unique optimum speed rotor,” Boeing explained. “The 12-hour flight followed an eight-hour flight on Sept. 27 during which the Hummingbird carried a 1,000-pound payload module.”
Ultimately, Boeing plans to fly the aircraft for 18 consecutive hours with a 300-pound payload.
Photo Credit: Keith Skelton