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'Eternal' Solar Plane Stays Two Weeks Aloft

Posted by timothy on from the for-small-values-of-eternity dept.

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."

10 of 37 comments (clear)

  1. Re:first Xmas post by sakdoctor · · Score: 2

    Well done. However you're the only person on slashdot today.

  2. Re:first Xmas post by JustOK · · Score: 2

    the 12 days of Christmas start on Dec 25th.

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    rewriting history since 2109
  3. Also see: Vulture by CrazySailor · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While Qinetiq has managed two weeks, DARPA is working on a five-year lifespan for its vehicles through the VULTURE program.
    Additional specs: 450 kg payload, 5kW payload power and flight in the 60k ft region.

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    -- Improve Windows - Buy a Mac!
    1. Re:Also see: Vulture by Dolphinzilla · · Score: 2

      The LEMV is way more impressive - it must stay up for a minimum of 21 days and carry a minimum of 2500 lbs and generate at least 16 KW of power - the Zephyr is a nice technology demonstration but has a long way to go to be actually useful - and BTW the LEMV airship is also built by a British company

  4. Re:Record time aloft? by oodaloop · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think there being air around you would be a requirement for "staying aloft." Staying in orbit isn't that hard.

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    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
  5. Re:Record time aloft? by Urkki · · Score: 4, Funny

    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...

    I think they're referring to heavier-than-air atmospheric flying machines here. And if you were just trying to be funny, it didn't work...

    But if we accept any flying contraption, then the Moon has been flying for about 4 billion years already. Those clever Swiss, they sure know how to make cheese that works like a clockwork!

  6. The Record is for UAVs only by jspoon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This isn't even close to the manned aircraft record. In the 50s some nuts kept a Cessna 172 flying for more than 2 months. When the generator gave out they hoisted up a small wind generator, taped it to a struct, and ran the power in through the cigarette lighter. Now that's what I call a record!

    1. Re:The Record is for UAVs only by Urkki · · Score: 3, Informative

      This isn't even close to the manned aircraft record. In the 50s some nuts kept a Cessna 172 flying for more than 2 months. When the generator gave out they hoisted up a small wind generator, taped it to a struct, and ran the power in through the cigarette lighter. Now that's what I call a record!

      I was so sure you were just joking, but it's real, and honestly, compared to today's "hoist a camcorder up in a balloon or RC plane" stunts... Well, there's no comparison :-)

  7. Re:If you were wondering... by garymortimer · · Score: 2

    No its not entirely autonomous, all the pilots hold ATPL licences and are involved in flying other platforms. It met its design criteria and will fly again in the new year for longer. Type in Zephyr at http://www.suasnews.com/ and you will find a video of the take off and landing, sorry I can't seem to paste in a link here. I believe it had enough power left to fly for several weeks more.

  8. Not just solar; unrefuelled by fnj · · Score: 2

    Much more significant than that. It's a record for unrefuelled flight, regardless of what the source of power is.