'Eternal' Solar Plane Stays Two Weeks Aloft 37
An anonymous reader writes "The BBC has a story on the confirmation of the record breaking flight of Qinetiq's Zephyr UAV: 'The UK-built solar-powered Zephyr aeroplane has been confirmed as a record-breaker following its non-stop two-week flight earlier this year. The world governing body for air sports records, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), gave Zephyr three records including longest time aloft. Built by defense technology company Qinetiq, the craft completed its two-week flight in the US in July. The company sees applications in surveillance and communications. The July feat led to Zephyr being dubbed the "eternal plane."' YouTube has some footage of the Zephyr in action."
first Xmas post (Score:1, Interesting)
Merry Xmas, /.! XD
Also see: Vulture (Score:5, Interesting)
While Qinetiq has managed two weeks, DARPA [darpa.mil] is working on a five-year lifespan for its vehicles through the VULTURE [darpa.mil] program.
Additional specs: 450 kg payload, 5kW payload power and flight in the 60k ft region.
Record time aloft? (Score:2, Interesting)
Not even close. What about "Five Weeks in a Balloon"?
And there have been astronauts and cosmonauts on Mir and ISS for 6 months at a time...
Re:Record time aloft? (Score:4, Interesting)
The Record is for UAVs only (Score:5, Interesting)