AtlantikSolar AS-1 performed the first continuous 12-hour flight on Monday 18th of August. The flight was performed to test the battery performance, i.e. to verify the aircraft endurance during zero-sun conditions as during night. After 12hrs and 22minutes of flight in rough winds up to 44km/h and strong thermal up- and downdrafts, the battery charge level was still at >20%. A maximum endurance of ~15 hours is thus assumed for night-time conditions. The average flight endurance for typical electrically driven model aircrafts or smaller-scale UAVs sits at below 2 hours, whereas AtlantikSolar aims to extend its 15 hours battery-only endurance to multi-day continuous flights using its solar power system.

We’d like to thank the Modellfluggruppe Rafz for the warm welcome and the opportunity to do performance and long-endurance flight testing on their airfield! The next step in the long-endurance testing process is the attempt of a 24-hours – i.e. day&night – flight at the end of the month.

AtlantikSolar AS-1 after the 12 hour continuous flight test in Rafz/CH.