The Vanilla Aircraft flew for 56 hours, setting a new world record for flight duration in its
weight class.
Credit: DARPA
A 56-hour, nonstop, unrefueled flight has set a new world record for endurance.
The VA001, a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone made by Vanilla Aircraft, stayed in the air for more than two days and two nights, setting the record for the craft's weight and power class. After taking off Nov. 30 from New Mexico State University’s Unmanned Air Systems Flight Test Center, the drone flew at an altitude of between 6,500 and 7,500 feet (1,980 to 2,286 meters) and averaged 65.6 mph (105 km/h) before landing on Dec. 2.
The drone project is backed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Pentagon's research arm. Drones already play an important role in military efforts, with functions ranging from surveillance missions to equipment delivery, DARPA said. Vanilla's VA001 is designed to stay aloft for up to 10 days of nonstop flight, carrying a 30-lb. (14 kilograms) payload, DARPA said. [Humanoid Robots to Flying Cars: 10 Coolest DARPA Technologies] https://www.livescience.com/57506-darpa-drone-sets-endurance-world-record.html
