"Skydweller is equipped with a variety of sensor systems and is conducting flight tests out of Stennis International Airport in preparation for operations during 2025," said Dr. Robert Miller, CEO and Co-founder of Skydweller Aero. "The resilience and robust design of our aircraft allow us to operate a multi-INT sensor suite of payloads throughout the winter, and we expect to conduct multi-day demonstrations in early 2025 over operationally relevant areas."
These ongoing tests build upon Skydweller Aero's autonomous flight successes in late summer and fall 2024. Despite challenges posed by Gulf Coast weather conditions, including two hurricanes, Skydweller completed six flights between August 22 and September 22. Four of these missions were fully autonomous, with the longest lasting 16 and 22.5 hours, respectively. These tests demonstrated Skydweller's ability to operate effectively over both land and offshore regions at altitudes reaching 33,000 feet.
"The aircraft maintained an impressive operational tempo, flying on average one mission every five days," Dr. Miller added. "This performance showcases the reliability and ease of maintenance of our platform."
The company's teams - Flight Operations, Weather Scientists, and Ground Support - worked closely to enhance the aircraft's autonomous capabilities. The tests included navigating around dynamic Gulf Coast weather patterns, fine-tuning Skydweller's weather-avoidance systems to ensure safe and efficient operation.
"Flying in close proximity to Mississippi thunderstorms allowed us to test and enhance our weather-avoidance systems. Skydweller's ability to navigate these conditions highlights its operational value, especially in tropical regions during hurricane and typhoon seasons," explained Dr. Miller. "This ability to navigate around dynamic weather patterns is vital for missions that require flight in challenging environments; avoiding sudden thunderstorms is similar to evading air defenses."
He continued, "And unlike many other uncrewed aircraft, we are not limited to clear-sky operations in controlled environments, like the Arizona or New Mexico deserts, but will operate in operationally relevant theaters."
Skydweller's robust design, significant payload capacity, and continuous power output make it uniquely suited for extreme-duration missions. The aircraft provides kilowatts of sustained power for critical systems, enabling operations across diverse and challenging environments.
"Skydweller's capabilities have been consistently validated through rigorous flight testing, achieving significant milestones without any safety incidents," said Barry Matsumori, President and COO of Skydweller Aero. "By leveraging our team's deep expertise in aeroelastics, flight control systems, mission systems, and autonomy, we are developing what we believe to be the world's first operationally viable perpetual flight platform - designed to serve the needs of both government and commercial markets."
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