Development on Vanilla Unmanned Continues

A final flight time of 8 days, 50 minutes, and 47 seconds covering 12,200 miles of continuous flight was achieved when the Vanilla Unmanned prototype ISR UAS touched down October 2. 

It created the newest world record for unrefueled, internal combustion endurance of an unmanned aircraft. 

“We are extremely proud of Platform Aerospace’s historic achievement,” said Lt. Col. Adam Brooks, Emerging Technologies Combined Test Force (ET-CTF) Director. “While the world record is exciting in and of itself, it is more important that we realize what this endurance ability means for our Joint Services who need persistent ISR capabilities immediately.”

The ET-CTF has been essential to the development of Vanilla’s prototype drone aircraft, trying to create a cost-effective, airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance demands for long-term periods aloft.  Created by Platform Aerospace, a small business from Hollywood, Maryland.  They partnered with the 412th Test Wing to launch the aircraft from the seminal testing location, Rogers Dry Lakebed on September 24. 

“[The] CTF’s purpose is to assist in the development of technologies that will support future warfighter efforts,” Brooks said. “As such, we are humbled to have had the opportunity to support this monumental effort on behalf of the warfighters who will benefit from tomorrow’s technology today.” 

Prior records fell short of the 8-day mark, the most recen completing 5 days of flight while uplinked with high-definition Electro-optical and infrared video to a command & control satellite beyond visual range. These capabilities are promising for those eager to get a “low-cost, ultra-long endurance ISR asset to the warfighter that can carry real mission payloads.” as described by Platform Aerospace CEO. “The system that flew these last three days costs less than (DoD) pays for some ordnance.  It’s not just the sticker price for this record-setting system, but also a multi-day flight model with drastically reduced manning and logistics cost.”

FMI: www.platformaerospace.com, www.edwards.af.mil, www.vanillaunmanned.com