It may look like a typical model airplane but the changing face of aviation has taken a further step in the process of evolution, as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) called the Pterosaur has broken a world record by flying 78 miles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Utilising a highly efficient hydrogen fuel cell, the Pterosaur flew 78 miles and 28 miles farther than the previous record set in 2006.
The distinguished group of scientists who created the Pterosaur indicate it only used a quarter of a tank of fuel and anticipate more world records to be broken with the plane, that has a range of 310 miles. The creators are quietly impressed with its record-breaking performance and note that there are even more sophisticated fuel cell power plants for aircraft on the horizon.
Such technology is increasingly significant as environmental laws emerge to limit carbon emissions into the atmosphere globally and UAV’s become more prevalent. UAV’s, perhaps by no coincidence, also happen to be the fastest growing segment of the aerospace industry at present and is a market estimated by some to be worth around $54bn over the next 10 years.
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