With solar power… Test flight spiral british electric aircraft

The PHASA-35 is a British-made aircraft that will continue to generate solar power while flying in the stratosphere for a year and be used for ground observation and surveillance. The PHASA-35 is said to have succeeded in its first test flight at the South Australian Air Force test site.

Prismatic, a subsidiary of BAE Systems, completed the product for two years from design. It debuted as HALE, an unmanned aerial vehicle that stays in the high airspace between satellites and aircraft for a long time with the support of the UK Defense Science and Technology Institute and the Australian Defense Science and Technology Organization.

BAE Systems said the PHASA-35 can act as a hub that relays communication between space and ground, and is also expecting transmission of communication networks including 5G. In addition, the battery does not run out at night because it uses electricity charged during the day.

The PHASA-35 has a wingspan of 35 m and weighs 150 kg. It uses a carbon composite monocoque structure and propeller to fly at an altitude of 21,000m at a speed of 93-145km/h. The PHASA-35 is scheduled for several tests within the year and will start operating within 12 months. It searches for forest fires or accidents and performs security and communication using built-in equipment.

The high-altitude aircraft that can withstand such long-term operation is the Solar Impulse 2, which previously succeeded in crossing the Atlantic Ocean with solar power generation, flying 71 hours without landing. Airbus also achieved a world record for 26 consecutive days by unmanned aerial vehicle. In addition, in Singapore, element One, a future hydrogen-fueled cell airplane, is being developed for its first flight in 2025 using solar and wind power. Softbank is also working on a similar project called HAPS. Related information can be found here .