A robot plane has made aviation history by becoming
the first unmanned aircraft to fly across the Pacific Ocean.
The American high-altitude Global Hawk spy plane made flew cross the
ocean to Australia, defence officials confirmed.
The Global Hawk, a jet-powered aircraft with a wingspan equivalent to
a Boeing 737, flew from Edwards Air Force Base in California and landed
late on Monday at the Royal Australian Air Force base at Edinburgh, in
South Australia state.
The 8600 mile (13840 km) flight, at an altitude of almost 12.5 miles
(20 km), took 22 hours and set a world record for the furthest a robotic
aircraft has flown between two points.
The Global Hawk flies along a pre-programmed flight path, but a pilot
monitors the aircraft during its flight via a sensor suite which provides
infra-red and visual images.
"The aircraft essentially flies itself, right from takeoff, right through
to landing, and even taxiing off the runway," said Rod Smith, the Australian
Global Hawk manager.
While in Australia, the Global Hawk will fly about 12 maritime surveillance
and reconnaissance missions around Australia's remote coastline.
It can fly non-stop for 36 hours and search 52,895 square miles (37,000
square km) in 24 hours.
Australia is assessing the aircraft and might buy it in future.
"Emerging systems such as the Global Hawk offer Australia great potential
for surveillance, reconnaissance and ultimately the delivery of combat
power," said Brendan Nelson, parliamentary secretary to the Australian
defence minister.
Nelson said the Global Hawk could be used in combat to "detect, classify
and monitor" targets as they approached the Australian coast.
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