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QinetiQ Zephyr
 
 
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Zephyr is a lightweight solar-powered plane engineered by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 defence firm, QinetiQ
QinetiQ

QinetiQ is an international Defense contractor, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency Defence Evaluation and Research Agency when it was split up in June 2001 ....
. It is of carbon-fibre
Carbon fiber

Carbon fiber or is a material consisting of extremely thin fibers about 0.005?0.010 mm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in microscopic crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber....
 construction, and uses sunlight to charge lithium-sulphur batteries
Molten salt battery

Molten salt batteries are a class of primary cell and secondary cell high temperature electric battery that use molten salts as an electrolyte....
 during the day, which power the aircraft at night. The aircraft has been designed for use in observation and communications relay.

The Zephyr holds the world record for the longest duration unmanned flight with a 54-hour, 58,355 foot flight in September 2007.

In a demonstration for the US military, the Zephyr performed beyond the official world record for the longest-duration unmanned flight, however its 82-hour flight did not set an official record because the Federation Aeronautique Internationale
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale

The F?d?ration A?ronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. This includes man-carrying vehicles from Balloon to spacecraft, and unmanned vehicles ....
 was not involved in the flight.








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Zephyr is a lightweight solar-powered plane engineered by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
 defence firm, QinetiQ
QinetiQ

QinetiQ is an international Defense contractor, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency Defence Evaluation and Research Agency when it was split up in June 2001 ....
. It is of carbon-fibre
Carbon fiber

Carbon fiber or is a material consisting of extremely thin fibers about 0.005?0.010 mm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in microscopic crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber....
 construction, and uses sunlight to charge lithium-sulphur batteries
Molten salt battery

Molten salt batteries are a class of primary cell and secondary cell high temperature electric battery that use molten salts as an electrolyte....
 during the day, which power the aircraft at night. The aircraft has been designed for use in observation and communications relay.

The Zephyr holds the world record for the longest duration unmanned flight with a 54-hour, 58,355 foot flight in September 2007.

In a demonstration for the US military, the Zephyr performed beyond the official world record for the longest-duration unmanned flight, however its 82-hour flight did not set an official record because the Federation Aeronautique Internationale
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale

The F?d?ration A?ronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. This includes man-carrying vehicles from Balloon to spacecraft, and unmanned vehicles ....
 was not involved in the flight.

Technical specifications

  • Wingspan: 18m (59ft)
  • Weight: 30 - 34kg (66 - 75lb)
  • Maximum payload: 2kg (4.5lb) approx
  • Maximum altitude: exceeds 18km (60,000ft)


See also

  • NASA Pathfinder
  • QinetiQ
    QinetiQ

    QinetiQ is an international Defense contractor, formed from the greater part of the former UK government agency Defence Evaluation and Research Agency when it was split up in June 2001 ....


External links