1,000-Foot Helicopter Flies in the Stratosphere for 18 Months!

In this episode, the Roswell Flight Test hears from Dr. Justin Selfridge about his novel concept for a new type of pseudo-satellite: an all-electric aircraft that flies in Earth's stratosphere for weeks, or longer, recharging its internal batteries using solar panels on its wings and fuselage. To date, all pseudo-satellites have employed a conventional fixed-wing structure. These can be used for a variety of applications, including communications relays, surveillance and other tasks otherwise left to more expensive, and less flexible, conventional satellies. However, Dr. Selfridge has developed a new design: essentially creating a giant helicopter with a 1,000 foot rotor span, which could dramatically increase the endurance and payload of these systems. By his estimates, this design could stay aloft for 18 months and carry payload of at least 50 pounds.