Spain develops
first unmanned hybrid airplane-helicopter
16 November2007
Madrid:
Spain's National Institute of Aerospace Technology has developed the first unmanned
airplane-helicopter hybrid, a vehicle that will be operational in 2010 and will
be designed to monitor borders and coastlines. The
HADA, as it is known, will be the first aircraft to take off and land vertically
like a helicopter and also deploy its wings and fly horizontally like an airplane. According
to project leader, Manuel Mulero, the HADA could be designed for manned flights
at a later stage. The HADA project will remain in the design phase until the middle
of next year when an operational prototype is expected to become available. Mulero
said that the aircraft, which will carry instruments to transmit images, position
and trajectory of targets in real time, will allow 'high efficiency' flights in
less time and on one-third of fuel normally consumed. The
HADA, the first prototype of which may carry a cargo of up to 150 kg, will remain
airborne for 3-6 hours, and could be used on missions to monitor coasts and borders.
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