The larger Zephyr variant, with twice the payload capacity, is expected for 2026. īy 2034, a 1,000 aircraft constellation could cover 2.9 billion people, and would provide emergency 4G/5G following natural disasters. īy early 2023, Airbus planned to launch operations from the end of 2024 with around 18 aircraft. The aircraft was lost when one engine component (redesigned since) failed in an unusual high-altitude storm turbulence at 17 km. It covered 56,000 km over the southern United States, the Gulf of Mexico, and South America. On 19 August, the plane was lost over the Arizona desert after a flight time of 64 days. On 15 June 2022, the Zephyr S took off in Arizona, venturing for the first time into international airspace and over water. īy October 2021, it had flown 2,435 hours. In summer 2018, for its maiden flight from Arizona, the Zephyr S remained aloft for 25 days 23 hours 57 minutes, nearly twice as long as the previous record flight of 14 days set by its predecessor. In 2016, a twin-tailed Zephyr T variant, providing a maritime surveillance and communications capability, was scheduled for flight testing in 2018. In February 2016, the UK Ministry of Defence purchased two Zephyr 8 planes. In 2014 it flew for 11 days in the short days of winter whilst carrying a small payload for the British Ministry of Defence, and later near civilian airspace. In March 2013, the project was sold to EADS Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space). ![]() It exceeded the nine days (216 hours) of the 1986 round-the-world flight of the Rutan Voyager. On 23 July 2010, the Zephyr 7 took the FAI-sanctioned duration record after a 336 hours (14 days), 22 min and 8 s flight, reaching 21,562 m (70,741 ft). Zephyr 6 īetween 28 and 31 July 2008, in a demonstration for the US military at its Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, the Zephyr 6 flew for 82 hours and 37 minutes, an unofficial record as the FAI wasn't involved. In February 2005, Qinetiq was preparing a demonstration above 30,000 ft for the UK Ministry of Defence at the Woomera Test Range in Australia, for reconnaissance or as a communications relay. The QinetiQ 1 balloon altitude record attempt failed in 2003. It was envisionned as an alternative to space satellites, stationed permanently in the stratosphere for environmental monitoring, mobile phone coverage or military applications. In 2003, QinetiQ, a commercial offshoot of the UK Ministry of Defence, was planning to fly its Zephyr 3 up to 40 km at 70 m/s (250 km/h 140 kn), after being released from a high-altitude balloon at 9 km, besting the NASA Helios which had reached 29 km. They can be used for mobile phone coverage, environmental monitoring, military reconnaissance or as a communications relay. The latest Zephyr 8/S weighs 60 kg (130 lb), has a wingspan of 25 m (82 ft), can reach 23,200 m (76,100 ft) and can lift a 5 kg (11 lb) payload for months. The unmanned aerial vehicles are powered by solar cells, recharging batteries in daylight to stay aloft at night. In the summer of 2022, the Zephyr 8/S flew during 64 days. In March 2013, the project was sold to Airbus Defence and Space. In July 2010, the Zephyr 7 flew during 14 days. ![]() They were designed originally by QinetiQ, a commercial offshoot of the UK Ministry of Defence. The Zephyr is a series of high-altitude platform station aircraft produced by Airbus.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |