NASA's 10-Engine Electric Plane named GL-10 Completes Flight Test
NASA successfully tested a 10-Engine Electric Plane named Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10) that that can take off and land like a helicopter and fly efficiently like an aircraft.
During several test flights, remotely piloted GL-10 prototype successfully transitioned from hover to wing-borne flight.
Key features of NASA’s Greased Lightning-10 (GL-10)
- GL-10 is remotely piloted plane similar as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
- It is designed and developed in such a way that it can take off like a helicopter and fly like an airplane.
- It is a battery-powered 10-engine and has a 3.05 meters wingspan. 8 electric motors are mounted on the wings. 2 electric motors are mounted on the tail.
- It weighs a maximum of 28.1 kilogrammes at take-off.
- Due to its versatile vertical takeoff and landing ability produces less noise.
- Applications: Can be used as UAV for small package delivery or vertical take-off and landing, long endurance surveillance for agriculture, mapping and other applications.
- Its modified scaled up version can be used as four person size personal air vehicle.
Month: Current Affairs - May, 2015