The Airbus Zephyr S was launched from an undisclosed site in Arizona at the start of its record-breaking flight.

The Airbus Space and Defence Zephyr 7 High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite unmanned air vehicle has conducted its first civilian-authorised flight.

Zephyr is a solar-powered unmanned air vehicle.

Preparations for a test flight of the Airbus Zephyr, one of several new solar-powered, high-altitude, long-endurance systems under development.

Zephyr S is to operate from Wyndham in Western Australia from September 2018.