China puts Feilong-1 endurance drone through high-altitude paces
- Drone able to perform in extreme conditions in regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang
- Device reportedly suited to border patrol and search-and-rescue missions
China’s long-endurance Feilong-1 drone is ready for high-altitude missions after tests in western China, its developer said on Wednesday.
The completion of the recent trial means the drone has met all design requirements and can perform in China’s high-altitude regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang, according to a statement on Zhongtian Feilong Intelligent Technology’s official WeChat account.
“In mid-April, the Feilong-1 was stationed in an airport in western China and completed exercises like heavy payload take-off, precision delivery of large objects, extreme altitude and duration flight, and high-frequency continuous flight,” the statement said, without disclosing the exact location of the trial.
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Zhongtian Feilong, a Xian-based drone developer and manufacturer, said the exercises tested the drone’s reliability in difficult situations and gathered useful information such as temperature and wind in high-altitude regions.
“The trial team has come up with a set of operating and emergency procedures in dealing with low temperature, low air pressure, low oxygen level and big winds,” the statement said, adding that the Feilong-1 was now “technologically mature” and could conduct missions in all kinds of situations.
The Feilong-1 could perform missions such as air freight transport, border patrol, maritime search and rescue and preventing and extinguishing forest fires, according to an introduction by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s website.