The Boeing Company is to design and build their SolarEagle spy plane that could eventually stay airborne for up to 5 years. The project is being undertaken by Boeing’s Phantom Works, with major suppliers Versa Power Systems and QinetiQ.
The $89 million (€65.5 million) project is being funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of their Vulture II demonstration program.
The SolarEagle has a high aspect ratio (glider like) 400ft (122m) wingspan, high efficiency electric motors driving its propellers and the ability to carry a 1000lb (454kg) electronic sensor to a cruising altitude of 60,000 – 90,000ft (18,288 – 27,432m). Using solar power generated from photovoltaic cells on its wings, the energy will be stored in fuel cells for nighttime operation to power its electric motors and provide 5kw of power for its sensors.
The SolarEagle is scheduled to make its first demonstration flight in 2014 and, as part of the development, fly continuously for 32 days. It is perhaps another example of how renewable energy technology will be an integral part of our future.
Via DARPA
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