{"id":10899,"date":"2016-06-14T06:22:11","date_gmt":"2016-06-14T13:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=10899"},"modified":"2016-06-15T10:42:58","modified_gmt":"2016-06-15T17:42:58","slug":"elektra-one-solar-or-luminati-vo-substrata","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/elektra-one-solar-or-luminati-vo-substrata\/","title":{"rendered":"Elektra One Solar or Luminati VO-Substrata?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your editor saw a\u00a0news item from Sun ‘n Fun about a new solar-powered airplane and recognized the design as one from\u00a0Calin Gologan\u2019s PC-Aero, an aircraft design and consulting firm in Germany. General Aviation News\u00a0<\/a>credited the airplane\u2019s design and construction to Luminati Aerospace in New York state.\u00a0 \u00a0The story did not mention Gologan\u2019s involvement, though, a possible oversight.\u00a0 An alert reader commented on the similarity of the airplane to the Elektra One Solar.<\/p>\n

\"N134WJ

N314WJ at Sun ‘n Fun 2016 with Luminati CEO Daniel Preston, test pilot Robert Lutz. Photo: Tom Snow<\/p><\/div>\n

A few months later, your editor saw an Associated Press story <\/a>from Calverton, New York, which explained, \u201cPilot Robert Lutz flew the VO-Substrata aircraft for about 20 minutes in the first test flight opened to the public. The white aircraft features wing-mounted solar cells and has a wingspan of about 43 feet. Logos of several companies and other entities involved with its production are plastered on both sides, similar to the sponsor decals on NASCAR race cars.\u201d<\/p>\n

Different reports have speculated on the source of funding for the company, but CEO Daniel Preston\u201c\u2026has repeatedly refused to disclose the identity of a tech company that reportedly is involved in the enterprise. Google, Facebook and other tech companies all have been involved with initiatives in the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calin Gologan, CEO of PC-Aero GmbH in Germany<\/a>, felt compelled to state the following on his Facebook page<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\"D-MELO

D-MELO in flight over Germany last winter. Photo: Calin Gologan<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201c<\/strong>This is the Maiden flight of the Elektra One Solar from PC-Aero Germany, Performed in Germany. The aircraft was registered in Germany as D-MELO and flew with a German Permit to Fly in the ultralight category. The same aircraft was presented at Sun and Fun Florida by Luminati Aerospace LLC from NY USA [a] few weeks later as an own-built aircraft without [mentioning] the real Source of the aircraft. We got a lot of feedback from the aircraft Community about these facts. That\u2019s why we need to react and tell the true [story] in order to protect our project, our company and our contracts with partners.\u201d<\/p>\n

He notes that the aircraft is an Elektra One Solar, with a first flight performed by PC Aero in Germany where the craft was registered as D-MELO.\u00a0 When it was delivered to Luminati in New York it was re-registered as N314WJ.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

AP’s Big Story reports that the company “envisions building a fleet of drones to provide aerial internet service for an estimated 4 billion people worldwide.”<\/p>\n

Luminati Chief Scientist, Anthony Calise, helped design Raytheon\u2019s Patriot missile system, and is considered an expert in aircraft remote control and guidance and will probably have much to do with helping these autonomous high flyers find their way.<\/p>\n

Luminati is based at a former skydiving school at Calverton, rents the town-owned 10,000-foot runway, and has proposed buying a 7,000-foot strip at the facility.\u00a0 After a two-year R&D period, the company would begin testing and flying drones at the site.\u00a0 Future aircraft sound like high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) vehicles, which would suit the rumors of Facebook or Google backing.<\/p>\n