German DLR solar-powered drone HAP-alpha completes maiden flight in Cochstedt

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The ultra-light unmanned solar-powered aircraft "HAP-alpha," developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), completed its first test flight in Cochstedt. With a wingspan of 27 meters and a weight of only 138 kilograms, the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 180 meters above ground during the maiden flight and circled stably for approximately 70 minutes.

The test flight was conducted at the National Test Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, primarily to verify the basic flight performance and various maneuvering capabilities of this high-altitude platform. Due to the sensitivity of the ultra-light structure to turbulence, the maiden flight imposed strict meteorological requirements, with wind speeds limited to no more than 1 meter per second. During the flight, the aircraft was remotely controlled from the control center, with a safety pilot on standby beside the runway for emergency situations.

The long-term goal for HAP-alpha is to reach an altitude of 20 kilometers and test technologies for Earth observation and communications in real-world conditions, including high-resolution camera systems and radar systems. Through this project, DLR aims to gain practical experience in the operation of pure solar-powered high-altitude platforms.

According to the plan, after subsequent evaluations are completed and the next round of low-altitude test flights is conducted, higher-altitude flight tests will be carried out over sparsely populated land areas or at sea. DLR stated that a total of 16 research institutes and organizations participated in the development and construction of the platform and its ground systems.