Background: AeroVironment's Pathfinder is a solar-powered, high altitude, endurance UAV. Flying from Kauai, HI, it set the world propeller altitude record of 71,530 ft in Jul 97. The single example built is funded under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. AeroVironment modified Pathfinder by adding two more motors, a 22-ft center section, wide-chord propellers, and an improved solar array to create Pathfinder Plus, which reached a propeller altitude record of 80,400 ft on 6 Aug 98 (data in parentheses).
Characteristics:
| Length, ft | 12.3 | Wing Span, ft | 98 (120) |
| Gross Weight, lbs | 540 | Payload Weight, lbs | 35 |
| Fuel Capacity, lbs | 0 | Fuel Type | Solar/battery |
| Engine Make | 6 (8)x electric motors | Power, hp | 8.3 |
| Structure | Graphite/epoxy spars; plastic skin | ||
| Guidance | Navigation | ||
| Data Link(s) | L-band | Data Rate(s) | |
| Endurance, hrs | 15 (demo) | Radius, nm | 67 (demo) |
| Max Speed, kts | 42 | Stall Speed, kts | 14 |
| Altitude, ft | 71,500 | ||
| Takeoff Means | Conventional (runway reqd) | ||
| Navigation | Preprogrammed
(points)/ autonomous/direct control |
||
| Landing Means | Conventional (runway reqd) | ||
Sensor(s):