Global Hawk Unmanned Reconnaissance System sets Aviation Record With Deployment To Australia. It is also recognized by the ' Guinness Book of Records' for the longest ever undertaken by an unmanned aircraft.
RAAF BASE, EDINBURGH, Australia, April 23, 2001 -- The U.S. Air Force's Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance system arrived at 8:40 p.m. local time this date, setting an aviation record with its 23-hour, 20-minute trip across the Pacific Ocean. The aircraft's nonstop flight from Edward's AFB, Calif., marked the first time that an unmanned, powered aircraft had crossed the world's largest ocean.
Produced by Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Integrated Systems Sector (ISS), the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle flies at extremely high altitudes up to approximately 65,000 feet surveying large geographic areas with pinpoint accuracy. Global Hawk will participate in a series of maritime patrol and coastal watch exercises with the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal Australian Navy and the U.S. Navy during the next six weeks. The system is scheduled to perform in more than 10 missions, including the annual Tandem Thrust exercise off the northeastern coast of Australia.
Three commemorative envelopes were created for this program.
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