A solar powered unmanned plane funded by the UK ministry of defence in conjunction with the US defence department flew for 82 hours and 37 minutes setting an unofficial world record, said Qinetiq.

The Zephyr "high altitude long endurance" plane was tested at the US Army's Yuma site in Arizona.

The plane is made of an ultra lightweight carbon fibre material, and during the day flies directly on solar power which is generated by amorphous silicon solar arrays.

During the night, the plane flies powered by rechareable lithium sulphur batteries, recharged during the day by solar power. The Zephyr flew to over 60,000 feet, steered by autopilot and using satellite comms. The device is intended to provide military communications.

As you can see from the picture below, the thing was launched by three hunks running along a runway.  X