American drone Zephyr crashed just before breaking the world record

After flying continuously for more than two months, a solar-powered drone being evaluated by the US military crashed in Arizona this month. The Zephyr S spent a total of 64 days in the air and came close to breaking the record for the longest flight ever. The unmanned aircraft was launched by the US military as part of a continuous airborne sensor experiment. Developed by aerospace company Airbus, the drone soared high into the stratosphere and collected vital data during its flight.

However, according to a report by Simple Flying, the drone lost contact with ground controllers on August 19 and crashed before being lost. The Zephyr S had previously been tested by the Airbus Defense and Space team, but longer-range flights lasted more than two weeks, this time with the drone achieving a flight duration of more than 64 days.

While the drone’s flight ended abruptly, the time spent in the air was not wasted. The drone’s developers and the US military collected data from the aircraft while it circled the stratosphere. Now, the team is analyzing the data extensively and will use it for research purposes as per the report.

With a wingspan of 75 feet and a weight of 166 pounds, the ultra-light aircraft can cruise for long periods at high altitudes. It is equipped with solar panels on its rear that collect sunlight during the day and power it during flight to keep the drone powered day and night.