OT: Trans-Atlantic Model Airplane

[geoschmo]

National Georghapic.com covered it. I also saw it on CNN the other day before this thread started, btu I haven't been able to find the link again looking for it.

[dogscoff]

yes, they do. including a big drone that runs of solar power that could cross an ocean. saw a documentary on nova.

I don't know if it's the same thing, but I saw an article about these giant unmanned planes that were designed to stay aloft at very high altitudes on an indefinite basis! They were really flimsy and lightweight looking, with a huge wingspan and loads of really big propellors. They props were driven by solar power from panels covering the wings.

They were conceived as a cheap alternative to orbital satellites for things like weather monitoring, recon, and all those other things they use satellites for. Cool idea.

EDIT: As for controlling the transatlantic effort, you could
(a) fly a normal aircraft alongside it and use a normal controller from there.
(b) program it to follow a signal from a transmitter attached to a trained bird or something

[ August 18, 2003, 16:59: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

[DavidG]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
National Georghapic.com covered it. I also saw it on CNN the other day before this thread started, btu I haven't been able to find the link again looking for it.

\ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...satlantic.html

This article seems to explains it best. I think the plane was programed to follow a certain path and the guy in Ireland just waited for it to show up and then took control.

Also although Drones may have crosed the Ocean it seems some Model Airplane association (or something like that) has pretty specific rules for what they consider a model.

[ August 18, 2003, 17:54: Message edited by: DavidG ]