Unmanned VI.

This is coolbert:

Here is the Helios.

Unmanned aerial vehicle of the HALE [high-altitude long-endurance] variety.

Solar powered during the day, fuel-cell powered during the night. The fuel-cell recycling it’s fuel.

Having the ability to fly at an altitude of 100,000 feet, carrying a payload of 100 pounds, and having an endurance of MONTHS being totally autonomous in the process.

[can achieve an altitude of 60,000 feet carrying a 400 pound payload.]

A flying wing. Again, unusual aerodynamic designs and power concepts can be implemented with UAV’s. When first attempted, flying wings were found to be inherently unstable. It was not until the micro-computer revolution that flying wing designs became feasible. Moore’s Law in action again.

Helios. To be used by NOAA for upper-atmospheric “research”. They said the same thing about the U-2 also.

coolbert.