Alenia Aeronautica in early October launched a second series of flight trials with its Sky-Y unmanned air vehicle demonstrator at Sweden's Vidsel test range.
The one-month campaign is intended to verify diesel engine and systems performance, to expand the Sky-Y's flight envelope up to 120kt (222km/h) and an altitude of 25,000ft (7,620m), and to demonstrate a 14h endurance, the company says.
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© Alenia Aeronautica |
Changes introduced following analysis of the Sky-Y's first flight last June include an improved fuel system, automatic take-off and landing, 4D navigation, advanced autopilot modes and an increased maximum take-off weight.
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© Alenia Aeronautica |
The 1.2t medium-altitude, long-endurance Sky-Y has been developed to clear the way for operational vehicles such as Alenia Aeronautica’s proposed larger Molynx twin-engined civil surveillance UAV, and a new military system also under development by the Italian company.
Source: Flight International
