Solar-powered unmanned aircraft breaks endurance record
JUL 19, 2010
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.024508
Daily Mail : A British-designed, solar-powered aircraft, Zephyr, broke the endurance record of 82 hours for unmanned flight on Saturday when it flew continuously for seven days, and it is expected to continue to fly for another seven. During the daytime, the aircraft is powered by the Sun via paper-thin solar arrays on its wings, which also charge batteries to power the craft through the night. With a 22.5-meter wing span and weight of 50 kilograms, Zephyr is capable of soaring for long periods of timeâmdash;possibly for military or civil surveillance purposesâmdash;without the need for refueling or servicing.
© 2010 American Institute of Physics
