Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Airbus Solar Drone Stays Aloft for 25 Days
High-Altitude Zephyr S Designed For 100 Day Flights
The prototype flew for 25 continuous days, besting its previous record of 14. The Zephyr S HAPS is designed to stay aloft for 100 days. (Photo: Airbus)
The prototype flew for 25 continuous days, besting its previous record of 14. The Zephyr S HAPS is designed to stay aloft for 100 days. (Photo: Airbus)

Airbus has kept its latest high-altitude, solar-powered drone aloft continuously for 25 days—the longest duration flight ever made. The first production Zephyr S HAPS (high altitude pseudo-satellite) took off from Arizona on July 11 and remained aloft for 25 days, 23 hours, and 57 minutes, besting the previous record, set by another Airbus Zephyr prototype, of more than 14 days. The record flight was supported by the UK government.