Zephyr Drone - Yuma AZ - 18 Aug 22

[PeterNSteinmetz]

Interesting that the prior endurance record was set in a C172 in 1959. 64 days in a C172!

Airbus Zephyr crashes short of endurance record

The Airbus Zephyr 8 high-altitude drone suffered a catastrophic failure and crashed just hours shy of a 63-year-old flight endurance world record.

www.aopa.org

 

[MuseChaser]

Out of curiosity, how did the 172 engine run non-stop for almost 1600 hours... without an oil change or burning some oil? Heck, that's not all that far from TBO!

 

[Jim Logajan]

Out of curiosity, how did the 172 engine run non-stop for almost 1600 hours... without an oil change or burning some oil? Heck, that's not all that far from TBO!

"Through-firewall plumbing was installed so that the engine oil and oil filters could be changed without shutting off the engine."
Full story here:
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2008/march/01/endurance-test-circa-1958

 

[Rush]

encountered events that led to its unexpected termination

Shot down by the Russians?