The ApusNeo solar-powered drone has flown continuously for more than 80 hours during a test flight in Spain, unmanned aircraft manufacturer UAVOS told New Atlas. The aircraft remained airborne and was attempting to reach 100 hours of continuous flight.
According to local outlet Noticias Fuerteventura, the aircraft cruised at an altitude of about 30,000 feet (9,100 metres) and was scheduled to land on Saturday at the Canarias Stratoport for HAPS and UAS. The endurance flight follows an altitude test on 16 October from the same site in Fuerteventura, where the aircraft reached 47,600 feet (14,500 metres) during a 29-hour mission.
UAVOS founder and chief executive Aliaksei Stratsilatau said the aircraft had the capacity to climb higher, but was restricted by airspace limits coordinated with Spanish air navigation authority ENAIRE. The company previously completed flights lasting 29 hours and 52 hours in September.
The ApusNeo features an 18-metre wingspan, a maximum takeoff weight of about 47 kilograms, and can carry up to 3.4 kilograms of payload. For its high-altitude flight, the platform carried high-resolution cameras and thermal infrared sensors designed for forest fire monitoring. UAVOS is working with Abu Dhabi-based Mira Aerospace to prepare the platform for future missions.
