Analysis

February 22, 2024

Airbus, Google, SoftBank and the race to build a stratospheric plane

With an increasing number of horses in the race, the finish line could be nearing 


Freya Pratty

5 min read

Aalto Haps' glider. Photo: Aalto Haps

Its wingspan is the same as that of a passenger plane but it weighs less than the average British adult. The Zephyr — which flies in our planet’s stratosphere — is one of a new crop of aircraft being built by startups and big businesses trying to monetise our skies, who say futuristic gliders like these could revolutionise wifi, as well as environmental and border monitoring.

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Launching an Aalto Haps glider. Photo: Aalto Haps
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Aalto Haps' glider under construction. Photo: Aalto Haps
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Freya Pratty

Freya Pratty is Sifted's associate editor. She covers UK tech and leads Sifted's investigations. Follow her on X , LinkedIn and Bluesky

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