In what feels like a homage to the 1950s UFO era, researchers in the University's School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering have developed an aircraft that takes off vertically before flying off horizontally.

With a wing span of 2.4 metres, a height of 1.6 metres, and weighing 30 kilograms, the "T-Wing" unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) blends properties of a helicopter with those of a conventional aircraft.

"Anything that takes off vertically and lands vertically has more operational flexibility because no runway is required. It takes off using propellers, but because it flies like a conventional aircraft - wing-born - it is faster, has more range, and more endurance than a helicopter," explains project-leader Hugh Stone.

While normal aircraft use runway speed to create wind over their wings to provide lift, the lift for take-off of the T-Wing is provided by propeller thrust. As the propellers spin, they blow air over the control surfaces of the wings - 'the propeller wash' - which in turn allows the vehicle to control itself during vertical flight.

The T-Wing, or "Adriano" as the researchers have named it, operates autonomously, communicating with the ground via a console. Operators program points in space - 'way points' - which are uploaded to the vehicle, directing it where to fly.

There is a big interest world-wide in unmanned aerial vehicles, according to Dr Stone. He and his team have been working closely with Sonacom, a company hoping to use the technology to deposit sonar buoys in the ocean.

"Because UAVs are not reliant on human pilots - people who need to eat and sleep - they can stay up longer. Also, no lives are lost if it crashes," he says.

However, unlike many other UAVs, Dr Stone's aircraft has a vertical take-off capability. "It can be placed on the back of a truck and can take off in a clearing almost anywhere," he explains.

Researchers in the United States and Korea have also developed "convertiplane" UAVs with vertical take-off, however according to Dr Stone, these are extremely mechanically complex and therefore very expensive.

"Our design blends the operational flexibility of a helicopter with the forward flight of a conventional aircraft, and it does so more simply than other vehicles," he says.

Footage of the aircraft in flight can be seen on the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering website.