HELIOS project was a part of NASA's ERAST programme (Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology). It was developed by NASA and Californian company AeroVironment Inc. ERAST programme develops pilotless solar powered airplane technology. The HELIOS construction is based upon its predecessors like NASA's solar plane Pathfinder, which was successfully tested a few years prior to HELIOS. Due to its speed HELIOS was able to flew over the same spot for days or weeks, therefore, in the future such airc
rafts could substitute communication satellites. In the test flight on 13th August 2001, HELIOS reached the height of almost 30,000 meters. HELIOS was a slow airplane - if you ride a bicycle fast, you are quicker than HELIOS. It was a remotely controlled plane with no crew weighting less than most cars. However, it flew higher than any other plane powered solely by solar energy.
rafts could substitute communication satellites. In the test flight on 13th August 2001, HELIOS reached the height of almost 30,000 meters. HELIOS was a slow airplane - if you ride a bicycle fast, you are quicker than HELIOS. It was a remotely controlled plane with no crew weighting less than most cars. However, it flew higher than any other plane powered solely by solar energy. HELIOS - technical data
Wing span: 75,3 m Length: 3,6 m Wing thickness: 0.3 m Height: 2 m, without upper blades of the propelers Wing area: 186.6 m2 Mass: 600 kg - unloaded plane Allowed mass: up to 930 kg, depends on flight purpose and available energy. Cargo: up to 330 kg, depends on measurement equipment weight. Propulsion: 14 DC brushless electric motors (the power of
each motor is 1,5 kW) with two blades, specialy designed for high altitude flights. The weight of each motor is less than 5 kg. Length of both propeller blades is 1,7 m. Energy source: Bifacial solar cells - dimmensions 1.25" x 2.75" (Front side efficiency 22 %, backside efficiency 11 %) placed on transparent wings. Energy source in the dark are lithium batteries. Fuell cells will be used as main energy source in the dark in the future. Speed: Typical flight speed is 30 to 40 km/h. The highest speed is 270 km/h. Flight height: Maximal flight height is 30000 m - typical height depends on flight mission and it is typical 15000 to 22000 m. Flight: The anticipated authonomy in the future together with fuell cells will reach for uninterupted flights (several months of authonomy). Materials: All main parrts of the plane are made of carbon fibres and styrofoam. Wings are covered with special designed and produced plastic sheet.
each motor is 1,5 kW) with two blades, specialy designed for high altitude flights. The weight of each motor is less than 5 kg. Length of both propeller blades is 1,7 m. Energy source: Bifacial solar cells - dimmensions 1.25" x 2.75" (Front side efficiency 22 %, backside efficiency 11 %) placed on transparent wings. Energy source in the dark are lithium batteries. Fuell cells will be used as main energy source in the dark in the future. Speed: Typical flight speed is 30 to 40 km/h. The highest speed is 270 km/h. Flight height: Maximal flight height is 30000 m - typical height depends on flight mission and it is typical 15000 to 22000 m. Flight: The anticipated authonomy in the future together with fuell cells will reach for uninterupted flights (several months of authonomy). Materials: All main parrts of the plane are made of carbon fibres and styrofoam. Wings are covered with special designed and produced plastic sheet. 
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