Solar Drone Designed For Military Surveillance Lands After Record 14 Days Aloft

Technicians clean a QinetiQ Aerostar Tactical UAV unmanned drone at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, southern England, on July 22, 2010. The company has tested a solar-powered drone, keeping it in the air for two weeks before landing it on Saturday. It set the record for the longest unmanned flight. (AFP/File/Ben Stansall)

Solar Drone Lands After Record 14 Days Aloft -- AFP

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – An ultra-light unmanned aircraft powered by solar energy and designed for military surveillance landed after two weeks aloft and setting a record for the longest unmanned flight, its manufacturer said.

The British-based defense technology firm QinetiQ said its 22.5-meter (74-foot) long Zephyr, weighing just 50 kilos (110 pounds), finally touched down in the Arizona desert 14 days and 21 minutes after it took off from the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground.

"It was airborne for 14 days and 21 minutes," company spokeswoman Claire Scotter said from London.

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My Comment: This is an "ultra-light" unmanned aircraft .... with the key word being "ultra-light". This tells me that more sophisticated (and heavier) military equipment cannot be used by this UAV .... but it is still a promising start.