The point of carrying a fighter up to 34km (111000ft) would be what exactly? Are the fighters solar powered as well?

The point in carrying them to 34 km is to avoid loosing in airbattle..the advantage of using altitude can deliver speed that the small turbofan alone couldn’t deliver. No solar on the small fighter…2 x rockets and one “homing” turbofan which keeps the speed at mach 0,92.

This is a low cost small nation manned air defence system ( in my opinion ).

Simplified !

Pretty boring anyway charlie well if it keeps him happy!

What what is boring ?

Able to carry one GM-1 to 34 km altitude.

Recently… well compared to the end of the last ice age, yes! :rolleyes: You might be thinking of Luton Minors.

In fact it was 2000 when Martin puttered away in ZT to the east for the last time, destination Kent. He squeezed it into a fairly tricky strip, and got the train home remarking ”Thank Feck I don’t have to fly that bl++dy thing again!” Three forced landings, one of them on fire, had cast rather a long shadow over the whole FRED experience, during his four year ownership.

The new owner had his very own ‘FRED experience’ on one of his early flights.

Still, cheap flying, very stimulating, lots of pub stories !

Why did it catch fire ?

Small update on this one man one satellite carrier !

On rocket power from 35 km onwards..the thrust is 2 x 5 kN !

In 1865 Jules Verne has been on light propelled ships that fly to space; http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/02/pictures/110208-jules-verne-google-doodle-183rd-birthday-anniversary/

That is 149 years ago !?

Helios is closest to this sofar with 30 000 m altitude.

See this too…537 m2 and 120 kw out put ; http://twistedsifter.com/2012/07/worlds-first-solar-powered-boat-to-circumnavigated-world/