On August 19th, the infamous solar-powered drone Zephyr was lost over Arizona, following an extended flight that had lasted for 64 days straight.
The Zephyr drone is unique not only because of the high altitudes at which it can fly, but also because of how long it can continuously remain airborne. Its capability for such long flights is thanks to its use of solar power.
Despite being over 82 feet long, the ultra-light craft comes in at only 166 pounds.
The Zephyr has set multiple records. It set the record for the longest unmanned flight on a previous flight in 2018. The aircraft set a new record for the highest altitude reached in its class at 76,100 feet.
The flight came within hours of beating the 63-year-strong record for the longest recorded flight, currently held by two pilots using a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The plane flew for 64 days and 22 hours on what is commonly known as the Hacienda flight.
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