– The article introduces the Zephyr, Britain’s largest aircraft made by Aalto. Despite its large 85-foot wingspan, the aircraft only weighs 65kg.
– The Zephyr’s light weight allows it to reach stratospheric heights of over 60,000 feet, far above commercial airliners. However, it flies very slowly, at the speed of a bicycle.
– The aircraft was originally developed by the British defense contractor QinetiQ for reconnaissance missions. It holds the world record for the longest unmanned flight at 64 days powered only by solar energy.
– Aalto is now looking to commercialize the Zephyr for uses like extending cellular networks to remote areas, border security surveillance, and environmental monitoring.
– The aircraft’s ability to persist quietly over an area for weeks makes it appealing compared to satellites which fly over quickly or drones with much shorter endurance.
– Aalto plans to offer the Zephyr’s capabilities as a service and is working on regulations to operate in stratospheric airspace for applications starting in 2026.
Source: telegraph
