fholbert
Mod's - Please don't edit my posts!
Surprised I’ve not seen this in the news, 64 days of stratospheric flight on solar power seems like it‘s worth a story. Sounds like the wreckage has not been found.
Narrative:
The solar powered Airbus Zephyr drone was lost during a test flight.
According to a statement made by Airbus U.S. Space & Defense: "Following 64 days of stratospheric flight and the completion of numerous mission objectives, Zephyr experienced circumstances that ended its current flight".
ADS-B data show the aircraft was flying at an altitude of around 52000 feet until it began to descend around 04:52 UTC (21:52 local time, August 18). The latest data point was recorded about 05:05 UTC (22:05).
| Date: | 18-AUG-2022 |
| Time: | c. 22:05 LT |
| Type: | Airbus Zephyr 8 |
| Owner/operator: | Airbus U.S. Space & Defense |
| Registration: | N469TN |
| MSN: | Z8-2 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Unknown |
| Location: | near Yuma Proving Ground, AZ -
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Test |
| Departure airport: | Yuma-Laguna AAF, AZ (LGF/KLGF) |
| Destination airport: | Yuma-Laguna AAF, AZ (LGF/KLGF) |
| Confidence Rating: | 
|
The solar powered Airbus Zephyr drone was lost during a test flight.
According to a statement made by Airbus U.S. Space & Defense: "Following 64 days of stratospheric flight and the completion of numerous mission objectives, Zephyr experienced circumstances that ended its current flight".
ADS-B data show the aircraft was flying at an altitude of around 52000 feet until it began to descend around 04:52 UTC (21:52 local time, August 18). The latest data point was recorded about 05:05 UTC (22:05).
