21 June 2006
The efforts of a Monash engineering student to modify the design of a commercial reconnaissance plane have resulted in the aircraft breaking the world record for a continuous flight by an unmanned aerial vehicle.
Final-year Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering/Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering student Mr Cameron Devries improved the design of the Aerosonde Mark 4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during his industry placement with its maker -- Melbourne aeronautical design company Aerosonde.
During the plane's maiden flight it maintained a circular flight path over western Victoria from take off at 6.37 am on 2 May to landing at 9.25 pm on 3 May -- a total of 38 hours and 48 minutes. The voyage smashed the previous record by more than eight hours.
Aerosonde Special Projects Manager Mr Maurice Gonella said Mr Devries led the modifications to the plane that, at 15 kilograms in weight with a three-metre wing span, resembles a large model plane. The single-cylinder craft is designed for tasks such as weather reconnaissance. |
