"If you fly 90 days with one plane, that's two takeoffs or landings, for us, rather than [] hundreds."Long HaulNew Scientist reports that the US Navy is working on an uncrewed aircraft that can stay in flight for up to 90 days thanks to large solar panels on its wings.Skydweller Aero in the US built the aircraft. It is a sly name for the aircraft.The SkydwellerThis plane is based on the Solar Impulse 2 crewed solar airplane that flew around the globe in 2015 and 2016. The Skydweller was created by the company after the pilot seat was removed. This allows for greater range and more space to carry larger payloads. There are also other upgrades and adjustments.This aircraft measures 236 feet in length and has 2,900 square feet of solar cells covering it. It generates up to 2 kilowatts. Aviation Today says it can carry 800 pounds of camera and radar equipment.AdvertisementAdvertisementSkydweller Aero CEO Robert Miller said that we are continuing to follow our plan to test autonomous flight. Next, autonomous take-off and landing will be followed by our first fully autonomous flight. After all of this is done, we will begin long-endurance testing in order to operate for at least 90 days.The US Navy currently operates larger drones that can stay in the air for only 30 hours during maritime patrols. However, longer flights could be especially useful for a wider variety of missions.Skydweller Aero founder John Parkes explained to Aviation Today that if you fly 90 days with one aircraft, it's two takeoffs or landings, rather than hundreds.The Skydweller will also be fitted with hydrogen fuel cells, which will increase performance and serve as an emergency backup in the event of bad weather.AdvertisementAdvertisementREAD MORE: The US Navy is working on a solar-powered plane capable of flying for up to 90 days [New Scientist]More about the Navy: A drone was used by the US Navy to refuel a fighter jet in midair
