Aurora Flight Sciences is claiming a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) flight record after its Orion unmanned aircraft completed a 80-hr flight last month.
The twin turbo-diesel engine-powered aircraft took off on Dec. 3 and landed on the 5th. It could have remain airborne for at least another day but the range at China Lake was not available for testing.
The company aims to have the UAV remain airborne for 120 hours with a 1,000lb payload.
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