Boeing SolarEagle

SolarEagle
Role High Altitude, Long Endurance Unmanned aerial vehicle
National origin United States
Manufacturer Boeing
Status Cancelled

The Boeing SolarEagle (Vulture II) was a proposed High Altitude, Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle solar-electric spy plane developed by Boeing Phantom Works.[1]

It was intended to remain airborne for five years at a time without needing to land. It had a wingspan of 393.7 feet (120 meters), and was slated to make its first flight in 2014.[2] It has 20 motors of the same type as the Qinetiq Zephyr designed by Newcastle University. DARPA is funding $90 million for the project with Boeing paying the rest.[3] However, the SolarEagle project was cancelled in 2012.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Haddox, Chris. "SolarEagle (Vulture II) Backgrounder" Archived June 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Boeing Phantom Works, September 2010. Retrieved: 18 October 2010.
  2. ↑ http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/drones/3
  3. ↑ "The pilotless plane that can stay in the air for years". 27 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  4. ↑ http://aviationweek.com/technology/facebook-s-uav-flies-builds-developments-solar-power


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