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Helios

The Helios Prototype solar-electric flying wing was one of several remotely piloted aircraft, also known as uninhabited aerial vehicles or UAVs, that were developed as technology demonstrators under the now-concluded Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) project. Prior to its loss in an in-flight mishap in June 2003, the Helios Prototype set a world altitude record for propeller-driven aircraft of almost 97,000 feet.   Helios Home Page

DFRC Photo # Photo Date Image Description
  Skip links in main table Helios Photo Collection Contact Sheet
DFRC Press Releases 03-27, 03-29, 03-31, 03-32, 03-33, Updates
ED03-0152-1 June 7, 2003 Equipped with an experimental fuel cell system to power the aircraft at night, the solar-electric Helios Prototype is shown during a checkout flight prior to its long-endurance flight demonstration in the summer of 2003.
ED03-0152-2 June 7, 2003 NASA's Helios Prototype electrically powered flying wing began a checkout flight June 7 from the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
ED03-0152-3 June 7, 2003 NASA's Helios Prototype electrically powered flying wing began a checkout flight June 7 from the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
ED03-0152-4 June 7, 2003 NASA's Helios Prototype electrically powered flying wing began a checkout flight June 7 from the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
ED03-0152-32 June 7, 2003 Equipped with an experimental fuel cell system to allow night time flight, the solar-electric Helios Prototype flying wing soars over the blue Pacific off the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
ED03-0152-60 June 7, 2003 The solar-electric Helios Prototype flying wing bisects the volcanic atoll of Lehua off the coast of Kaua'i, Hawaii, during a checkout flight on June 7, 2003. Helios is now equipped with an experimental fuel cell system to allow nighttime flight.
EC03-0058-2 March 4, 2003 Aerovironment technicians line up attachments as a fuel cell electrical system is installed on the Helios Prototype solar powered flying wing.
EC03-0058-6 March 4, 2003 Technicians for AeroVironment, Inc., jack up a pressure tank to the wing of the Helios Prototype solar-powered flying wing.
EC02-0031-6 February 1, 2002 The Helios Prototype flying wing stretches almost the full length of the 300-foot-long hangar at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center
EC02-0031-7 February 1, 2002 The solar-powered Helios Prototype flying wing frames two modified F-15 research aircraft in a hangar at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center
ED01-0230-1 August 13, 2001 NASA's Helios Prototype aircraft taking off from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, for the record flight
ED01-0230-2 August 13, 2001 The Helios Prototype aircraft during initial climb-out to the west over the Pacific Ocean.
ED01-0230-3 August 13, 2001 The Helios Prototype aircraft in a northerly climb over Niihau Island, Hawaii, at about 8,000 feet above sea level.
ED01-0230-4 August 13, 2001 The Helios Prototype aircraft at approximately 10,000 feet flying above cloud cover northwest of Kauai, Hawaii.
ED01-0209-1 July 14, 2001 The Helios Prototype flying wing is shown moments after takeoff, beginning its first test flight on solar power from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii.
ED01-0209-2 July 14, 2001 The Helios Prototype flying wing is shown over the Pacific Ocean during its first test flight on solar power from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii.
ED01-0209-3 July 14, 2001 The Helios Prototype flying wing is shown over the Pacific Ocean during its first test flight on solar power from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii.
ED01-0209-4 July 14, 2001 The Helios Prototype flying wing is shown near the Hawaiian island of Niihau during its first test flight on solar power from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility.
ED01-0209-5 July 14, 2001 The Helios Prototype flying wing is shown near the Hawaiian islands of Niihau and Lehua during its first test flight on solar power from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility.
ED01-0209-6 July 14, 2001 The Helios Prototype flying wing is shown near the Hawaiian islands of Niihau and Lehua during its first test flight on solar power from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility.
ED01-0209-7 July 14, 2001 The Helios Prototype flying wing is shown near the Hawaiian island of Niihau during its first test flight on solar power from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility.
ED01-0146-3 April 28, 2001 The 247-foot length of the Helios prototype wing is in evidence as the solar-powered flying wing rests on its ground dolly during pre-flight tests at the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility.
ED01-0146-4 April 28, 2001 Helios Prototype crew chief Marshall MacCready of AeroVironment, Inc., carefully monitors motor runs during ground checkout of the solar-powered flying wing prior to its first flight in Hawaii.
ED01-0146-1 April 28, 2001 Ground crewmen maneuver the Helios Prototype flying wing on its ground support dolly during functional checkouts prior to its first flights under solar power.
ED01-0146-2 April 28, 2001 Ground crewmen maneuver the Helios Prototype flying wing on its ground support dolly during functional checkouts prior to its first flights under solar power.
ED01-0146-5 April 28, 2001 Ground crewmen maneuver the Helios Prototype flying wing on its ground support dolly during functional checkouts prior to its first flights under solar power.
ED01-0146-6 April 28, 2001 Ground crewmen maneuver the Helios Prototype flying wing on its ground support dolly during functional checkouts prior to its first flights under solar power.
EC00-0283-3 September 18, 2000 An engineer at AeroVironment's Design Development Center inspects a set of silicon solar cells for potential defects
EC00-0283-4 September 18, 2000 Technician Marshall MacCready installs solar cells on the Helios Prototype
EC00-0283-5 September 18, 2000 AeroVironment Technician Marshall MacCready carefully lays a panel of solar cells into place on a wing section of the Helios Prototype
EC00-0283-9 September 18, 2000 AeroVironment technician checks a Helios solar cell panel
EC99-45285-7 Dec 1999 Helios Prototype landing on Rogers dry lakebed trailed by support vehicles concluding its sixth flight
EC99-45230-3 November 1999 Helios Prototype in flight over a dry streambed - viewed from above
EC99-45210-1 October 14, 1999 Helios Prototype and Pathfinder-Plus on Dryden ramp
EC99-45186-3 September 1999 Helios Prototype in flight over lakebed during second battery-powered flight
EC99-45186-6 September 1999 Helios Prototype in flight over lakebed trailed by its control van
EC99-45161-6 September 8, 1999 Helios Prototype in flight during maiden low-altitude checkout flight
EC99-45161-8 September 8, 1999 Helios Prototype in flight during maiden low-altitude checkout flight
EC99-45161-9 September 8, 1999 Helios Prototype in flight during maiden low-altitude checkout flight
EC99-45161-1 September 8, 1999 Helios Prototype on lakebed prior to first battery-powered flight
EC99-45161-10 September 8, 1999 Helios Prototype in flight during maiden low-altitude checkout flight
EC99-45140-2 August 18, 1999 Helios Prototype on lakebed during ground check of electric motors
EC99-45140-12 August 18, 1999 Helios Prototype on lakebed undergoing functional checkout procedures
EC99-45140-11 August 18, 1999 Closeup of the Helios Prototype on lakebed

Additional Information

Unfortunately, the program suffered a major setback when the Helios experienced control difficulties while on a checkout flight on June 26, 2003, and the aircraft suffered some structural failures and was subsequently destroyed when it fell into the Pacific Ocean about 10 miles west of the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The experimental fuel cell system carried aboard the Helios Prototype on that flight was lost.

Since the record altitude flight, AeroVironment, Inc., designer and manufacturer of the giant flying wing, has focused on development of the experimental fuel cell-based electrical power system that would allow flight at night to meet the second milestone. The firm is working on two non-regenerative versions of the system, as well as a regenerative version that would make continuous flight spanning several months possible in the future.

NASA and AeroVironment officials see great potential for the use of high-altitude, long-endurance solar aircraft as platforms for a variety of Earth science experiments, telecommunications relay services, pipeline and border patrol monitoring, commercial agricultural imaging and military surveillance operations.

The Helios Prototype first flew during six low-altitude airworthiness validation flights on battery power at NASA Dryden in the fall of 1999. The aircraft then underwent major upgrades, including the installation of high-efficiency solar cell arrays across the wing, navigation and emergency lights, improved avionics and more efficient propellers, prior to its record altitude flight in 2001.

Helios updates are available at /centers/dfrc/Newsroom/ResearchUpdate/Helios/index.html




Last Modified: September 1, 2004
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