In a report in the Straits Times, 14 October 2003, the military application for such a Laser Powered Plane holds tremendous potential.
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/techscience/story/0,4386,214515,00.html?Laser plane THIS aircraft keeps getting hit by a laser beam fired from the ground. But rather than bringing it down, the beam actually keeps the plane flying.
The prototype plane - with a wingspan of 1.5m and weighing just 300g - has been making successful test flights at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (Nasa) Dryden Flight Research Centre in California, the New Scientist reports.
It uses photovoltaic cells to convert the energy from the laser beam into electricity to power a propeller.
The plane is the first to be powered solely by laser energy, although it has so far been test-flown only in a hangar.
Nasa is experimenting with the revolutionary new plane, with an eye to developing aircraft that can remain in flight at high altitude for indefinite periods.
'The aircraft could be used for everything from relaying cellphone calls to cable television or Internet connections,' says Mr David Bushman, project manager for beamed power at the Dryden centre.
It could also be used for remote sensing of the earth's surface or to monitor the atmosphere, not to mention possible military applications.
Such a plane has advantages over other long-duration, high-altitude aircraft, such as balloons and solar-powered planes.
It is light and does not need to carry the heavy batteries that solar-powered craft need to stay up at night. It is also easier to hold over one location than a balloon.
The researchers' next step will be to create bigger craft and see if they can keep aloft.