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BY Tali Aaron : July 20

Zephyr Solar Powered Plane makes over 200 hour Unmanned Flight

zephyr solar powered plane

Like the gentle wind for which it is named, the Zephyr unmanned solar powered plane seems to unobtrusively pass through the sky. This is quite a feat since it is not a small plane. Its long, thin body and slender, almost 73-foot wingspan brings images to mind of a giant stick insect or pond skimmer. Whatever terrestrial image comes to mind, the sky is the real domain of the Zephyr and this unmanned solar powered plane is making aviation history.

Unmanned flight has been an aviation goal for decades because of the opportunities it provides for ongoing surveillance and scientific observation. Solar powered unmanned plane technology has been particularly intriguing because it circumvents the fueling challenge. The Zephyr solar powered plane uses paper-thin silicon solar arrays on its wings to capture solar energy for immediate use and as stored energy in lithium-sulfur batteries. The stored energy powers the unmanned plane at night.

The Zephyr unmanned solar powered plane has been flying continuously for close to 200 hours. This airtime already far exceeds the previous record of 33.1 hours set in 2008 by an unmanned traditionally-fueled Northrop Grumman aircraft.

If the Zephyr solar powered plane can be safely landed, it will claim a record for unmanned flight, and make the idea of solar powered perpetual flight one step closer to reality.

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Posted in: Airplane, Alternative Energy, Solar Energy, Transportation
Tags: solar energy (223)   solar powered plane (3)   solar technology (22)   e-cigs akkulaturi (4)   
First Published: July 20, 2010 at 2:04 pm

5 Responses to Zephyr Solar Powered Plane makes over 200 hour Unmanned Flight

  2. IQA on November 7, 2012 at 11:00 am


    200 hour solar powered flight? Surely not... http://t.co/IcE6xohB #cleantech #renewableenergy #solarpower via @cleangreenpro

    Reply
  3. buildaroo on November 7, 2012 at 10:55 am


    Zephyr Solar Powered Plane makes over 200 hour Unmanned Flight http://t.co/Khc7PzIt #eco #cleantech #greenbuilding #renewableenergy

    Reply
  4. buildaroo on April 14, 2012 at 11:58 am


    Zephyr Solar Powered Plane makes over 200 hour Unmanned Flight http://t.co/Khccn9Jn #eco #cleantech #greenbuilding #renewableenergy

    Reply
  5. buildaroo on February 20, 2011 at 2:30 pm


    Zephyr Solar Powered Plane makes over 200 hour Unmanned Flight http://bit.ly/awsUyh #eco #cleantech #greenbuilding #renewableenergy

    Reply
  6. GODFREY LAMBART on August 3, 2010 at 12:14 am


    RE: PRICES C&F KENYA INTERNATIONAL AIR PORT
    DUNCAN ELVIS SOLAR GARAGE
    PO BOX 33833 KAMPALA UGANDA
    PLOT 2-4 INDUSTRIAL AREA
    TEL:256782-493743
    FAX:256414-345597
    ATTN GODFREY LAMBART
    ATTN TO THE SALES DEPARTMENT
    RE: PURCHASE OF SOLAR PANELS GEN SETS ETC
    We are a Company in uganda dealing in the above mentioned items .
    For that matter we would like to get a price quotation C&F KENYA Iinternational air port.
    Avail us with the price in US$ to enable us give you our order. we are required to supply them to an organisation here in Uganda (we won a tender to supply these items for a period of 3 years.
    We hope ouR request will meet your kind approval and avail us with the requested information as soon as you are ready with it.
    Thanks
    GODFREY LAMBART

    Reply

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