{"id":11880,"date":"2018-08-22T21:54:44","date_gmt":"2018-08-23T04:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=11880"},"modified":"2018-08-22T21:54:44","modified_gmt":"2018-08-23T04:54:44","slug":"stratoairnet-prototype-completes-1st-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/stratoairnet-prototype-completes-1st-flight\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cStratoAirNet\u201d Prototype Completes 1st Flight"},"content":{"rendered":"

George E. Bye. CEO and founder of Bye Aerospace, is on a roll these days<\/a>, selling a large number of SunFlyer 2 training aircraft, delivering Silent Falcon solar electric unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), partnering in the TriFan 600 project with XTI Aircraft, and overseeing the first flight of the StratoAirNet prototype.<\/p>\n

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Already a mile high in Colorado skies, StratoAirNet launches on its first flight<\/p><\/div>\n

A letter from Diane Simard, Senior Vice President of Bye Aerospace, Inc., reports \u201cthe successful completion of the first flight of the solar electric technology demonstrator prototype for its \u201cStratoAirNet\u201d and \u201cSolesa\u201d families of medium-altitude aircraft systems.\u201d\u00a0 Flying from the Northern Colorado Regional Airport, north of Loveland, the sailplane-based optionally-piloted vehicle has made additional flights since its maiden outing.<\/p>\n

Bye expressed happiness at the event and gave thanks to those who made it possible.\u00a0 \u201cIt was a great day for solar-electric aviation.\u00a0 My thanks to our entire team for their persistence and extra efforts to achieve this milestone. I would also like to thank the professionals at Northern Colorado Regional Airport for their cooperation in making these flights possible.\u201d\u00a0 He also credits Greg Cole of Windward Performance, noting \u201cWe are grateful for his help with the developmental prototype!\u201d<\/p>\n

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SolAero solar cells gleam in the sunlight over the runway<\/p><\/div>\n

Two forms of this long-endurance flight approach are on the horizon.\u00a0 Both systems will provide support for extended \u201c\u2026endurance commercial and government security requirements, including patrol, observation, utility, mapping, precision agriculture, search and rescue and surveillance missions,\u201d according to the company.<\/p>\n