Solar plane makes record flight A UK-built solar-powered plane has set the unofficial world record for longest flight time by an unmanned aircraft.
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The ultra-lightweight Zephyr-6 stayed aloft for 82 hours and 37 minutes in a demonstration for the US military. Built from carbon fiber and powered by paper-thin solar panels, the craft weighs a mere 66 lb (30 kg) and flies at an altitude of more than 60,000 ft (18,000 m). Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries store energy from the sun throughout the day and power the propellers at night. A plane that can remain aloft indefinitely using solar power and can fly over the same area all day would be invaluable in military applications.
