Boeing Condor
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| Condor | |
|---|---|
| Type | Research UAV |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Maiden flight | 9 October 1988 |
The Boeing Condor was a high tech test bed reconnaissance drone aircraft. It had a wingspan of over 200 feet, longer than that of a Boeing B-52.[citation needed] Powered by two 175 hp, six cylinder opposed, twin super-charged liquid cooled Continental TSOL-300-2 engines it had a top speed of 230 mph.
Carbon fiber composite materials made up the bulk of the Condor's fuselage and wings. With a very low radar and heat signature the Condor was a very stealthy aircraft.[citation needed] The Condor is completely robotic, with an on board computer to communicate with the computers on the ground via satellite to control all facets of the Condor's missions. The Condors frame is made of mainly carbon fiber composite, as it gives off very low radar and heat signatures.
In 1989, the Condor set the world piston powered aircraft altitude record of 66,980 feet and was the first aircraft to fly a fully automated flight from takeoff to landing.
On-board computers communicate with the computers on the ground via satellite to control all facets of the Condor's missions.
During its evaluations, the Condor logged over 300 hours of mission flying over Moses Lake, Washington. It is now on a display in the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Mateo, California.[citation needed]
[edit] Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: None
- Length: 54 ft 5 in (16.59 m)
- Wingspan: 194 ft 1 in (59.16 m)
- Empty weight: 8,000 lb (3,600 kg)
- Gross weight: 20,000 lb (9,100 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Continental TSOL-300-2, 175 hp (130 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 230 mph (370 km/h)
- Endurance: 80 hours
- Service ceiling: 67,000 ft (20,500 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10.2 m/s)
[edit] References
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