Qinetiq UAV sets flight record

The Zephyr high-altitude long endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle, using solar power, achieved its longest flight to date over the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico at the end of July. One of the three aircraft flown in the trials flew for 18 hours, including seven hours in darkness, using solar power for the ascent and switching to battery power as dusk fell.

Zephyr has a wingspan of up to 16 meters but weighs less than 30 kg (66 lbs.). It uses a combination of solar array and rechargeable batteries, and – when fully developed – is expected to operate for months at a time at altitudes above 50,000 feet.