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Engadget | 6 June 2012
After four years of development, Boeing’s liquid hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye unmanned autonomous aircraft made its
first flight last Friday. It took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California, with the dual-propeller-driven aircraft lifting off of its
launch cart at 6:22am PST.
In the course of the ensuing 28-minute flight, Phantom Eye climbed to an altitude of 4,080 feet (1,244 meters) and reached a
speed of 62 knots. The Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft is actually designed to go as high as 65,000
feet (19,812 meters), carrying a maximum payload of 450 pounds (204 kg), staying aloft for up to four days at a time.
According to Boeing personnel, the flight marked a successful demonstration of Phantom Eye’s fuel, propulsion, guidance and
navigation systems, among others.
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bp6QuMt8PgE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
After four years of development, Boeing’s liquid hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye unmanned autonomous aircraft made its
first flight last Friday. It took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California, with the dual-propeller-driven aircraft lifting off of its
launch cart at 6:22am PST.
In the course of the ensuing 28-minute flight, Phantom Eye climbed to an altitude of 4,080 feet (1,244 meters) and reached a
speed of 62 knots. The Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft is actually designed to go as high as 65,000
feet (19,812 meters), carrying a maximum payload of 450 pounds (204 kg), staying aloft for up to four days at a time.
According to Boeing personnel, the flight marked a successful demonstration of Phantom Eye’s fuel, propulsion, guidance and
navigation systems, among others.
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bp6QuMt8PgE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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