AeroVironment Centurion
AeroVironment · United States · first flew 1998 · reconnaissance aircraft
The AeroVironment Centurion was a solar-powered, remotely piloted flying wing built by AeroVironment under NASA's ERAST programme to demonstrate long-endurance high-altitude flight using photovoltaic electric propulsion. Its 62.8-metre wingspan gave it one of the largest spans of any aircraft at the time.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × electric, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 2.74 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 0 (unmanned) — solar-electric flying wing UAV with 62-metre wingspan
- Actual engine count: 14 electric motors — capped at 4 in schema
- Designed for very high-altitude long-endurance atmospheric science missions
An extremely long-span flying wing with no fuselage, multiple propellers distributed along the leading edge, and a flexible structure that visibly bends in flight; the extraordinary aspect ratio immediately identifies it.
Specifications
- The AeroVironment Centurion has a length of 2.74 m (9 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 62.8 m (206 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 195 km/h (121 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Centurion was developed as a successor to the Pathfinder and Pathfinder Plus solar aircraft, featuring a modular wing structure that could be extended. It flew in 1998 at Edwards Air Force Base, achieving high-altitude flight. The design was subsequently extended and refined into the Helios Prototype, which set a world altitude record for winged aircraft at 29,524 metres in 2001.
Variants
Centurion evolved from the Pathfinder series and was itself developed into the larger Helios Prototype; these are distinct aircraft rather than variants in the conventional sense.
Where you'll see it
Operated by NASA as a research platform; never entered any operational service.
Related aircraft
- AeroVironment Helios Prototype
- AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven
- AeroVironment RQ-14 Dragon Eye
- AeroVironment FQM-151 Pointer
- Bell Eagle Eye
- Boeing X-40A
- IAI Searcher II
- Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.