Solar Energy Powers the Longest Unmanned Flight
The UK defense firm Qinetiq has developed an unmanned, solar powered plane which has just broke the world record for the longest unmanned flight.
The plane, named Zephyr stayed in the air for 54 hours, smashing the previous record of 30.
It uses only solar power to stay aloft and the self-recharging system which was the trick to the long flight.
I’m sure you’ve heard by now how bad airplanes are on emissions, but the super-sonic engines used by the military seem like they’d be much worse.
Could the entire military one day be solar powered? This is the first step..
According to a BBC report today, a UK defense firm called Qinetiq has developed and tested a lightweight, solar-powered plane which has just broken the world record for longest unmanned flight. The plane, known as the Zephyr, spent 54 hours in flight using only self-recharging solar power, thus breaking the 30-plus-hour flight of the previous record holder, the US Air Force’s Global Hawk surveillance craft. Although the record has been smashed, the plane won’t be eligible for entrance into the “official” record books due to a late announcement of the feat, though another 33-hour flight might make the cut. The plane — which has a wingspan of 59-feet — is controlled from the ground after a hand liftoff, and is capable of cruising at 58,000 feet. According to the designers, the Zephyr is, “Going to go a lot higher and a lot further,” and added that, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Indeed, ICEMAN, indeed. - Engadget
via Engadget
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