THOR
Role Unmanned aerial vehicle
Manufacturer Airbus
First flight November 2015

The Airbus THOR (Test of Hi-tech Objectives in Reality) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by Airbus partially produced through the process of 3D printing. It is possibly the world's second 3D printed aircraft, flying four years after the world's first in 2011, Sulsa.[1] Presented for the first time at the 2016 Berlin Air Show, except the electrical engine parts, the drone-like model is entirely made by 3D printing from polyamide.[2] Although still in beta phase, aircraft like THOR are intended to make flights more economical and safer.

THOR made its maiden flight in November 2015 near Hamburg where it passed most of the tests.[3]

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: 0
  • Length: 4.0 m (13 ft)
  • Empty weight: 21 kg (46 lb)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed

References

  1. ↑ Marks, Paul (27 July 2011), "3D printing: The world's first printed plane", New Scientist, retrieved 28 January 2019
  2. ↑ "Airbus Introduces 3D-Printed Unmanned Airplane". 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  3. ↑ Julien, Marie (5 June 2016), "Airbus presents 3D-printed mini aircraft", Phys.org, retrieved 8 June 2016
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