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Boeing Gets $89M To Build Drone That Can Fly For 5 Years Straight

Posted by Soulskill on from the home-in-the-clouds dept.

coondoggie writes "One of the more unique unmanned aircraft concepts took a giant step toward reality this week when the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency inked an agreement with Boeing to build the SolarEagle, a plane capable of remaining at heights above 60,000ft for over five years. Boeing says the first SolarEagle under the $89 million contract could fly as early as 2014."

7 of 271 comments (clear)

  1. Summary Fail by tirefire · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "More unique"? You can't qualify "unique", it's like saying "more dead" or "more binary".

    Hey, where's everybody going?

  2. batteries... by martas · · Score: 5, Interesting

    i suppose one of the biggest challenges will be developing [lightweight] batteries that can function for 5 years while being dis/recharged every day... i.e. 1800 times. could be tough.

    --
    weinersmith
  3. Way too much by BufferArea · · Score: 5, Funny

    Boeing Gets $89M To Build Drone That Can Fly For 5 Years Straight...for that much you think it could turn too!

  4. Re:2014? by oldspewey · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm curious to hear more about your concept for a solar-powered jet engine.

    --
    If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
  5. Now, "Google Maps Live!" by Animats · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Wait until Google gets these. Google Maps could be updated in real time.

  6. Re:SEE! by oldspewey · · Score: 5, Informative

    Most commercial air traffic flies between 29,000ft - 39,000ft. I think there are one or two private jets that are certified to fly as high as 52,000ft. At 60,000ft it's just military traffic.

    --
    If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
  7. Re:SEE! by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    War ended the systematic murder of Jews, Roma and Homosexuals in Europe.

    Explain how the Nazi government was going to rationally treat the Slavs, Jews, Roma, Homosexuals, mentally ill and genetically defective people in Western and Central Europe.

    By advocating isolation of Germany, Finland, Italy, etc, you'd condem millions of people to terrible fates just because.

    The idea that "there are always ways that all parties can resolve their legitmate conflicts to the greater benefit of everyone," was thrown out the door and stomped on by Hitler following the partition of Czechoslovakia.

    Would Blacks in the American south have been better served by decades more slavery?