Solar electric unmanned plane sets record: 83 hrs aloft

[MetroMPG]

An ultra-lightweight plane built from carbon fiber and powered using paper-thin solar panels has broken the world record for longest-lasting unmanned flight, its manufacturer claimed Sunday.

QinetiQ Group PLC said its propeller-driven "Zephyr" aircraft flew for 83 hours and 37 minutes, more than doubling the official world record set by Northrop Grumman's "Global Hawk" in 2001.

The plane weighs a featherlight 66 pounds / 30 kilograms and reached an altitude of of more 60,000 feet (18,000 meters).

The panels charged lithium batteries during the day for night operation.

Source: Newsvine - QinetiQ says it has broken unmanned flight record

QinetiQ Home, inspired solutions for a changing world

[dcb]

Nice Looks like an exceptionally fun project

[MetroMPG]

I think so too.

I wonder if they "pulsed" during the day up to the highest possible altitude & bled it back at night while running off the batteries.