Quote:
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.
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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
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