Electra aero flies solar-electric hybrid research aircraft, fuel cells included.
Electra.aero, Inc. (“Electra”), a next-gen aerospace company with a mission to help decarbonize aviation and open new air transportation markets, announced that it has completed the first flight of a solar-battery hybrid electric research aircraft.
This 90-foot wingspan unmanned aircraft system (UAS) made its first flight from Manassas Regional Airport, Virginia on September 9, 2022, and is the first airplane to emerge from Electra’s new development facility there.
The new plane, named Dawn One, is part of the Stratospheric Airborne Climate Observatory System (SACOS) program. SACOS is being developed under the leadership of Professor James G. Anderson at Harvard University.
The project is supported by a contract from the National Aeronautics and Space…