Tue, Nov 01, 2011
What If An Aircraft Could Take Off And Stay In Flight –
Forever?
On Tuesday, Nov. 1, at NASA's Langley Research Center, aerospace
engineer Craig Nickol will present, "Fly Forever: Pursuing
the Dream of Indefinite Endurance Flight," at 1400 EDT in the Reid
Conference Center. Nickol will discuss current and future projects
where engineers are designing aircraft that use sustainable or
renewable energy for virtually unlimited flight.
Nickol will describe the development of solar powered aircraft
including the current pursuit of a solar powered High Altitude Long
Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (HALE UAV) with an energy storage
system for multi-year flight. With recent advances in solar cell
and regenerative fuel cell performance, a Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA) project called Vulture is now investing $89
million in sustainable technology. Nickol will discuss the current
status and future plans for the Vulture.
An aerospace engineer in the Systems Analysis and Concepts
Directorate at NASA Langley, Nickol supports the Vehicle Systems
Program by leading an analysis of alternatives study of HALE UAV
concepts. He is currently working on research for both the
Environmentally Responsible Aviation project and DARPA's Vulture
project.
Before to coming to NASA in 2003, Nickol spent nine years at the
Naval Air Systems Command, in the advanced design branch and the
maritime patrol program office. Nickol has a Bachelor of Science in
aerospace engineering from Case Western Reserve University and a
Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of
Virginia.
At 1930 EDT, Nickol will present a similar talk for the general
public at the Virginia Air & Space Center in downtown Hampton.
The presentation is free and no reservations are required.
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