Airbus’ unmanned solar-powered Zephyr S has been flying for more than 20 consecutive days . The Zephyr solar plane was originally designed by the company QinetiQ, which in 2013 was sold to EADS Astrium – today Airbus Defence and Aerospace. The Zephyr S is the latest in the Zephyr series of solar powered aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 75kg and a 5kg payload, its ability to stay in the air for extended periods of time makes it a sensor platform for the military. The Zephyr S took off from the U.S. Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona on June 15, and tracking data showed it flew over the Gulf of Mexico on June 27, then over the Caribbean Sea, into the airspace of Belize, Central America, and returned last week. U.S. The Zephyr S flew for nearly 26 consecutive days on its maiden flight in 2018, and it remains to be seen if it can break that record this time around.
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