Northwestern Polytechnical University Photo: CFP

The single flying duration of a type of ornithopter prototype "Yun Xiao" developed by Northwestern Polytechnical University has reached 123 minutes, a major breakthrough, and the result has been verified by professional institutions, the university said in a post on its Wechat account.

An ornithopter prototype refers to small types of air vehicle that mimics the flapping motion of bird flight. Such flying pattern has the potential to complete long-distance flight and has a strong mobility due to high freedom of motion. An ornithopter also is characterized by being bio-imitable, covert and portable, so the air vehicle is able to take off by throwing out and land by gliding, without subjecting to site constraints. 

The ornithopter research and development (R&D) team at the university is led by professor Song Bifeng and the R&D on bionic flying technology first began in 2001.

In September, the Global Times reported that the email system of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province - well-known for its aviation, aerospace and navigation studies - was found to have been attacked by the US' National Security Agency (NSA). 

In addition to "Yun Xiao," the research team has also developed other types of ornithopter prototypes with different characteristics such as "pigeon," "Jinque" and "Xintianwen." All showed improvements in flight efficiency and duration.

Several ornithopter prototypes have completed over 3,000 flight missions in over 20 Chinese cities, including in Yangbajing township, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, which is at an altitude of 4,300 meters, and Daocheng county in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, at an altitude of 4,100 meters. 

Those air vehicles are also proven to be usable in temperatures between -10 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees Celsius, and can withstand wind speeds of Beaufort force 4, in addition to light rain and snows. 

Global Times