Industry Airbus’ Zephyr S surpasses flight endurance record

  • Airbus

With 14 days, 22 minutes and 8 seconds without refueling, Airbus’ Zephyr S has broken the current flight endurance record held by Airbus’ QinetiQ Zephyr 7.

  • 4

The Zephyr S has been pioneering the stratosphere for 14 days, 22 minutes and 8 seconds on Wednesday. With this time Airbus’ High-Altitude-Pseudo-Satellite has broken the world flight endurance record of an aircraft without refuelling. One day after the announcement the aircraft is still flying.

On 11 July 2018 the Zephyr S started its maiden flight departing in Arizona, USA. The final endurance record will be confirmed on landing.

Airbus’ Zephyr programme consists of solar-powered, ultra-lightweight aircraft with a wingspan of 25 metres weighing less than 75 kg. Airbus lists maritime surveillance and services, border patrol missions, communications, forest fire detection and monitoring, or navigation as examples for the Zephyr’s applications. The aircraft operate in the stratosphere with an average altitude of 21 kilometres (70,000 feet) above weather and above regular air traffic.

The Zephyr is laid out to be ideally suited for ISR/Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance and can cover areas hundreds of miles wide. While staying focused on a special area of interest the Zephyr can provide satellite-like communications and Earth observation services without interruption over long periods of time. Airbus calls the Zephyr “not quite an aircraft and not quite a satellite, but incorporating aspects of both”.

Source © airbus.com

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