Skydweller Aero Revolutionizes the Aerospace Industry

Big Buzz Blog - April, 2024

Skydweller Aero recently set up operations at Stennis International Airport – and they shared an announcement concerning a very special solar-powered aircraft.

- by Lisa Monti

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​Skydweller Aero, an innovative aerospace company that recently set up its operations base at Stennis International Airport, announced that its solar-powered aircraft completed “the world’s first successful autonomous/unmanned/uncrewed flight.”
 
Officials said the Skydweller aircraft took off from Stennis on March 21, flew over the Gulf of Mexico, and landed itself without any human control.
 
“This is a true, world-changing first in the aerospace industry,” said Robert Miller, Skydweller Aero founder and CEO, in announcing the accomplishment.
 

 
The history-making aircraft was unveiled to the public during a ceremony at Stennis last month. It was transported from the company’s facility in Spain and reassembled at the Hancock County airport.
 
Miller said the aircraft has a fully integrated autopilot system designed and programmed by the Skydweller engineering team in Madrid and Oklahoma City that allows it to take off, fly and land automatically.
 
The aircraft can then be controlled remotely from the ground from Skydweller’s Mission Control Element using data links.
 
Skydweller has a wingspan of 236 feet, greater than that of a 747, and can stay aloft for 90 days or more at altitudes of up to 45,000 feet without leaving a carbon footprint, according to the company.
 
According to the company, a Skydweller aircraft can take off from the United States, fly itself to the South China Sea, and stay aloft on a mission for weeks or months at a time before returning home.
 

 
The aircraft’s impressive aerial coverage capabilities could be dispatched by government or commercial customers on missions into war zones and over areas inaccessible after natural disasters without putting human crews at risk.
 
“We are applying cutting-edge, 21st-century materials, science, artificial intelligence, and software development to an industry that has spent more than 100 years building piloted, combustion-based aircraft,” Miller said. “This allows Skydweller to leap ahead of heritage aircraft manufacturers in terms of aircraft performance, flight duration and cost-effectiveness.”
 
Previous Skydweller flights, including a record-breaking trip around the world, were flown autonomously (without manual intervention) but had a pilot onboard to assist in testing and development.
 
The company is planning to build a fleet of uncrewed aircraft whose long-duration missions will “support national security and non-terrestrial communications with revolutionary cost savings.”
 
Miller said, “Design and manufacturing of the next aircraft is already underway. We are working closely with the county and state on these plans.”
 
More Skydweller flights from Stennis are in the works. “Future flights are already planned, and these will be coordinated with the airport and FAA,” he said.
 
A temporary hangar was built for the aircraft earlier this year on the north end of the airport runway. The company’s initial investment of $15 million at Stennis could grow to around $40 million as the fleet adds aircraft and test flights increase. At least 36 new jobs are expected to be filled.
 
In the last few months, Skydweller has recruited four new employees and continues to work with Mississippi in workforce development and engaging with the local community, Miller said.

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