Engineering student flies high

The efforts of a Monash engineering student to modify the design of a commercial reconnaissance plane have resulted in the aircraft breaking the world record for a continuous flight by an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Final-year Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering/Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering student Mr Cameron Devries improved the design of the Aerosonde Mark 4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during his industry placement with its maker -- Melbourne aeronautical design company Aerosonde.

During the plane's maiden flight it maintained a circular flight path over western Victoria from take off at 6.37 am on 2 May to landing at 9.25 pm on 3 May -- a total of 38 hours and 48 minutes. The voyage smashed the previous record by more than eight hours.

Aerosonde Special Projects Manager Mr Maurice Gonella said Mr Devries led the modifications to the plane that, at 15 kilograms in weight with a three-metre wing span, resembles a large model plane. The single-cylinder craft is designed for tasks such as weather reconnaissance.

Mr Devries said the team at Aerosonde worked on all aspects of the plane's design. "We improved engine performance, optimised the aerodynamics and added larger fuel tanks. We made sure we got as much as we could out of it," he said.

Mr Devries became involved with the Aerosonde Mark 4 during his industry placement with the company in late 2004 and early 2005. Since then, he has worked at the company part-time while completing his studies at Monash.

"This has certainly been a very exciting start to my career," he said.

For more information about the Aerosonde Mark 4, visit the Aerosonde website.