[garjog]

Question: how can it stay airborne for days I wonder? Its a modified 747 and they can’t stay up for days.

[Secret Agent Man]

refuelling. even so it probably has to after a few days of constant flying need some kind of maintenance.

[ltc8k6]

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/8/8/5/0188588.jpg

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/7/1/6/0188617.jpg

[Deaf Smith]

"how can it stay airborne for days I wonder? "

It's a hybrid...that runs on flex fuel...and solar panels... /s.

[The Antiyuppie]

“Question: how can it stay airborne for days I wonder? Its a modified 747 and they can’t stay up for days.”

1. It has environmentally friendly solar cells mounted on top, and it’s fast enough to stay in sunlight 24 hours a day

OR

2. It has deployable pinwheels that extend from the fuselage attached to generators to run the propellers

OR

3. It is equipped with a Sterling engine and with the Administration on board there is an inexhaustible supply of hot air for operation

[RFEngineer]

“Question: how can it stay airborne for days I wonder? Its a modified 747 and they can’t stay up for days.”

typical press. It can fly for days, but it can’t fly for days without refueling. I presume it is equipped for air-to-air refueling, so it can fly for days without landing and refueling- which is probably what confused the reporter.

If it’s not equipped for air-to-air refueling then the specs in the article will rule:

Speed: 602 miles per hour (523 knots)

Range: 6,200 nautical miles

So by backing off on the throttle, they probably need to refuel every 12-16 hours or so.