Article Posted on : - Dec 29, 2010

Zephyr - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Photo: QinetiQ.

LONDON (BNS): The UK-built solar-powered Zephyr pilotless plane has been recognised as having smashed the world record for the longest time spent in the air by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), after staying aloft for two weeks.

The 50kg craft, built by defence technology company QinetiQ, remained airborne for 14 days, 22 minutes and 8 seconds – 11 times longer than the previous record, according to media reports.

The world governing body for air sports records, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), gave Zephyr three records including longest time aloft.

The FAI noted that Zephyr smashed the previous record for the absolute duration of an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) flight - set by Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk in 2001 - by a factor of 11.

QinetiQ believes that Zephyr’s ability to fly higher and longer than any other current aircraft offers benefits to a number of potential customers in the military, academic, commercial and scientific arenas.

The record-breaking flight took place above a US Army site in Arizona for 14 days in the month of July, 2010.

Zephyr High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is an ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre aircraft. It flies on solar power generated by amorphous silicon arrays covering the aircraft’s wings, no thicker than sheets of paper. It is powered day and night by rechargeable lithium-sulphur batteries that are recharged during the day using solar power.

The aircraft uses United Solar Ovonic solar arrays, a full flight-set of Sion Power batteries, as well as a novel solar-charger and bespoke autopilot developed by QinetiQ.