The Zephyr High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre aircraft. Weighing in at only 50 Kilograms it is 22.5 m long and flies on solar power generated by amorphous silicon arrays covering the aircraft’s wings, no thicker than sheets of paper. It is powered day and night by rechargeable lithium-sulphur batteries that are recharged during the day using solar power.
During July 2010 the Zephyr which is built by Qinetic achieved a 14 day, 21 minute flight reaching an altitude of 70,000. In itself this flight doubled the world endurance record but it is thought that the Zephyr can actually stay aloft for months on end.
During July 2010 the Zephyr which is built by Qinetic achieved a 14 day, 21 minute flight reaching an altitude of 70,000. In itself this flight doubled the world endurance record but it is thought that the Zephyr can actually stay aloft for months on end.
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