Colorado-based Ascent Solar Technologies (www.ascentsolar.com) has started supplying lightweight and flexible thin-film solar cells for Bye Aerospace’s Silent Falcon unmanned aircraft system (SFUAS). The solar-electric Silent Falcon has an interchangeable wing configuration designed for commercial, public safety and defence applications.

The 30lb UAS is claimed to feature efficient aerodynamic design, lightweight composite construction and advanced solar energy collection; it is designed to facilitate all-day flight endurance.

Ascent Solar CTO Joe Armstrong said: “Silent Falcon is the first solar-electric aircraft to enter commercial production. Its solar wings — based on our in-production, flexible, monolithically integrated CIGS photo-voltaic product — are performing extremely well, giving the propulsion system a significant source of lightweight electric energy and endurance. Working closely with Silent Falcon, we have demonstrated a product specific to their needs and specifications, as well as assisting them in related power management technologies.”

Bye Aerospace started SFUAS in 2010 with a prototype electric unmanned aerial vehicle and initial design work on solar electric hybrid propulsion. SFUAS president John Brown said: “Silent Falcon is the first solar-electric aircraft to go into commercial production.”