AeroVironment-Softbank JV Conducts Second Test Flight of Solar-Powered Aircraft

HAPSMobile, a joint venture between Japan-based SoftBank and AeroVironment, has completed the second trial flight of a solar-powered unmanned aircraft.

The HAWK30 solar-powered high-altitude platform system, or HAPS, flew on Oct. 23 from NASA’s California-based Armstrong Flight Research Center, HAPSMobile said Friday. The company intends to use HAWK30 to provide mobile connectivity.

The aircraft flew for about an hour and 30 minutes with the achievement of altitudes higher than those recorded during its first test flight.

HAWK30 also demonstrated 180-degree turns, controlled runway landing and further performance of power, propulsion and avionics systems.

“We’ll carefully verify the data from this test and move forward with preparations to conduct stratospheric flight tests,” said Junichi Miyakawa, president and CEO at HAPSMobile as well as  representative director and chief technology officer at SoftBank.

The company will bring HAPSMobile to Hawaii for stratospheric test flights before March 31 next year.