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Unmanned Systems

Vanilla Aircraft Eyes Larger Versions Of Long-Duration UAV

By Marc Selinger

Tuesday, January 31st, 2017

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Vanilla Aircraft Eyes Larger Versions Of Long-Duration UAV

Vanilla Aircraft's VA001 unmanned aircraft. (Photo courtesy of Vanilla Aircraft)

Vanilla Aircraft, whose small, diesel-powered VA001 unmanned aerial vehicle set a flight duration record late last year, is developing two larger aircraft that could carry heavier payloads to meet anticipated customer needs.One new variant will have a larger engine and a slightly longer wing, allowing it to carry a 50-pound payload, up from the VA001’s 30-pound payload. Vanilla calls it “the B version” of the VA001 because, like the original aircraft, it will have a “bulbous bottom and long skinny…

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