UAVOS says solar aircraft passes 80 hours in ongoing flight

UAVOS says its ApusNeo solar aircraft has logged more than 80 hours in an ongoing flight over Fuerteventura, with 100 hours as its goal. Earlier flights in September lasted 29 and 52 hours, according to aircraft operator CATEC. Solar panels power the motors and charge batteries for overnight flight. An observation pod carries a high-resolution camera and infrared sensors that send images to the ground in real time. The aircraft is flying at around 30,000 ft, according to Noticias Fuerteventura, below the 20 to 50 km altitude range used to define high-altitude platform stations.