Solar-powered plane breaking record – airborne up to 26 hours!
Feats
British success in 1st New York Red Bull race – Bonhomme wins, Lamb 2nd, and American Chambliss 3rd
Svetlana KAPANINA – Queen of the skies
The Russian pilot Svetlana KAPANINA, has won up to 39 gold medals, two World Air Games, and seven World Championship titles – a record in women category.
Among her feats, she is used to challenging the best male pilots in the world as she has reached the top 4 – and even top 2 – several times in overall competition. Finally, she has been awarded a prestigious medal for being the best pilot of the century.
According to her performance on the videos above, she deserves her nickname « Queen of the skies ». Just watch and enjoy…
Tu-160 record-breaking 23-hour patrol
X-51A WaveRider speed duration record at around Mach 5 – May 26, 2010
The X-51A WaveRider maintained its speed for more than 3 minutes. The X-43A reached the speed of Mach 9.8 in 2004. However, that top speed lasted for only 10 seconds.
« The X-51 launched at about 10 a.m. from here, carried under the left wing of an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 Stratofortress. Then, flying at 50,000 feet over the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range, it was released. Four seconds later an Army Tactical Missile solid rocket booster accelerated the X-51 to about Mach 4.8 mach before it and a connecting interstage were jettisoned. The launch and separation were normal », Mr. Brink said. (www.af.mil courtesy)