Solar Drone With Boeing 747 Wingspan Achieves Month-Long Flight Capability
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: Thales and Skydweller Aero have unveiled a solar-powered drone with a massive 224-foot wingspan capable of flying for an entire month, transforming maritime surveillance capabilities while producing zero emissions.
📈 One key stat: The solar-powered drone can carry impressive payloads up to 881 pounds, marking a major advancement over previous solar UAVs that were limited in their load-carrying capacity.
💬 One key quote: “The combination of Thales’ AirMaster S Smart Radar with the MAPS Skydweller changes the paradigm for surveillance missions,” said Sébastien Renouard, Thales’ Chief Commercial Officer for EMEA.
1️⃣ The big picture: Engineers from Thales and Skydweller Aero have created a breakthrough solar drone with a wingspan larger than a Boeing 747. This remarkable aircraft integrates advanced AI-enabled radar technology and can stay airborne for up to a month without needing to refuel. The drone operates at medium altitudes and offers continuous surveillance over vast maritime regions, including Exclusive Economic Zones and contested areas. Made from lightweight carbon fiber and powered entirely by solar energy, this innovation represents a major leap forward in sustainable aviation technology.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This technological marvel runs on renewable solar energy, producing zero carbon emissions while conducting lengthy surveillance missions. Its extended flight capability reduces operational costs dramatically compared to traditional aircraft that require frequent refueling. The integration of AI-enabled systems means less human intervention is needed, enhancing safety and efficiency. Beyond military applications, the platform has tremendous potential for environmental monitoring and disaster management. The collaboration also highlights successful transatlantic cooperation in aerospace innovation, creating new opportunities for sustainable aviation.
3️⃣ What’s next: As Skydweller continues refining this technology, we can expect expanded applications beyond military use into civilian sectors like environmental monitoring. The successful integration of AI and solar power will likely inspire further innovations in autonomous aerial vehicles. This platform sets a new benchmark for the industry, potentially spurring development of even more advanced sustainable aircraft in the near future.
Read the full story here: Sustainability Times – “We Built This to Fly Forever”: Engineers Unveil Solar Drone With 224-Foot Wingspan Capable of Month-Long Flights
