SolAero Technologies Corp (SolAero) has completed and delivered the first solar wing for Bye Aerospace’s solar-electric UAV, the “StratoAirNet.”

Using “proprietary methods to maintain the critical laminar flow surface on the wing,” SolAero is integrating its “advanced high-efficiency solar cell technologies” on the graphite composite StratoAirNet wing.

This initial wing-solar cell combination will provide ample power— approximately 2,000 Watts— under ideal daylight conditions at altitude, resulting in sustained flight of the StratoAirNet UAV being achieved.

“We are very excited about this first milestone delivery as part of our partnership with Bye Aerospace for their family of solar-powered StratoAirNet UAVs,” says Brad Clevenger, CEO of SolAero Technologies.

“The combination of our advanced high-efficiency solar-cell technologies and integration expertise with the wide range of capabilities of the StratoAirNet UAV family will help usher in a new era of middle and high altitude commercial and defense atmospheric satellite applications.”

George Bye, CEO of Bye Aerospace, adds, “the integration of the advanced SolAero solar-cells on the StratoAirNet prototype launches the initial demonstration phase of an entirely new paradigm of highly efficient solar-electric UAVs.”

Bye Aerospace’s “StratoAirNet” family of “atmospheric satellites” are designed to support commercial and government security requirements. This “milestone event” is a result of a collaborative effort between the SolAero and Bye engineering teams.

The initial medium-altitude StratoAirNet 15 proof-of-concept prototype is almost complete, and is currently going through final assembly.

The plan as of right now is for “final assembly and integration of the wings and power systems integration” of the solar-powered StratoAirNet to begin this November. Following that, ground and flight tests will take place at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport near Loveland and Ft Collins, Colorado.

According to George Bye, there are a variety of potential commercial mission applications for the StratoAirNet atmospheric satellite, such as internet service, severe weather tracking, and spill detection and infrastructure quality assessment, just to name a few.