Bye Aerospace, SolAero Technologies ground-test solar wing

Bye Aerospace StratoAirNet with integrated wings populated by SolAero solar cells

Albuquerque, New Mexico-based SolAero Technologies Corp. has completed ground testing of the integrated solar wings on Bye Aerospace’s medium-altitude, long-endurance solar-electric StratoAirNet unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). SolAero integrated lightweight, flexible, high-efficiency solar cells onto the wing structure manufactured by Bye while preserving the wing’s laminar-flow surface.

StratoAirNet – a lightweight, carbon composite construction, solar-electric UAV – has a payload capacity up to 70 lb for multiple sensors at altitudes up to 35,000ft. The initial StratoAirNet 15 prototype (with a 15m wing) can be optionally piloted to enable rapid qualification of customer payloads without FAA airspace restrictions.

George Bye, CEO of Bye Aerospace, said, "With the completion of ground tests for the solar cells on the wings, we can advance to the next stage of assembly and in-flight testing."

Brad Clevenger, president and CEO of SolAero Technologies added, "George and team have been great partners in bringing to market a unique set of all-electric UAS capabilities and we're excited to see the products continue to move successfully through the challenging stages of integration and testing."