AeroVironment Global Observer

[Steve Pace]

Here's a first flight photo of the AV GO. -SP

 

[Clioman]

There were several versions of a news piece by W. J. Hennigan in the LA Times on 11 and 12 January. The actual first flight date was buried in the text: 6 January. The flight lasted about four hours, reaching a max altitude of about 3,000 feet.

 

[aim9xray]

First flight of the air vehiclewas on August 5, 2010, as documented in a cover story in Aviation Week. Electrical power to the motors was supplied by batteries.

The "first flight" in January, 2011 was with the intended hydrogen based power generation system.

 

[flateric]

UAV crashes at Edwards AFB

Posted 4/1/2011 Updated 4/1/2011

4/1/2011 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- A Global Observer unmanned aircraft crashed at approximately 2:30 a.m., April 1, near the southwest corner of Rogers Dry Lakebed. There were no injuries or damage to property on the ground.

Global Observer is a Joint Capability Technology Demonstration program.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

(Courtesy 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs)