UAV makes record endurance flight

The flight of the 36-foot wingspan ultra-long endurance aircraft was submitted for a world duration record for combustion-powered UAVs in the 50-500 kg subclass. A representative from the US National Aeronautic Association was present to witness the record.

The flight was planned as a 120-hour mission but ended prematurely due to forecasted severe icing and range restrictions. Despite this, the Falls Church, Virginia-based company said the aircraft landed with enough JP-8 fuel on board for a further 90 hours in the air.

“This effort represents tremendous and unprecedented coordination among civil, defence, academic, and private industry to bring a heretofore only imagined capability to reality,” said Vanilla Aircraft CEO Rear Adm. Timothy Heely (ret.).

Taking off and landing at Las Cruces International Airport in New Mexico, the airplane carried 20 pounds of actual and simulated payload, flying at 6,500 to 7,500 feet above mean sea level. According to Vanilla, the flight represents a further step toward the VA001’s goal of carrying a 30-pound payload for 10 days at 15,000 feet.