NASA Centurion
Third-generation solar-electric flying wing for high-altitude research.
The NASA Centurion was the third in a line of solar- and fuel-cell-powered unmanned aerial vehicles developed by AeroVironment under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program. Its purpose was to advance technologies for high-altitude, long-duration aircraft that could function as atmospheric satellites, conducting atmospheric research and serving as communications relays. It was derived from the NASA Pathfinder Plus and later led to the NASA Helios.
The Centurion was originally designed to meet the ERAST project's goal of reaching 100,000 feet on solar power. Program managers considered a design based on the Pathfinder and Pathfinder Plus to be the lowest-risk way to achieve that altitude. A quarter-scale model was first test-flown at El Mirage Dry Lake on March 4, 1997. The full-size Centurion made its maiden flight at Rogers Dry Lake on November 10, 1998, lasting 1 hour and 24 minutes. It weighed 1,385 pounds, including a 150-pound steel anvil suspended on its centerline to simulate a payload. That flight was nearly flawless, followed by a second flight on November 19 before a crowd of VIPs and media, lasting 1 hour and 29 minutes. The third and final low-altitude test flight occurred on December 3, when the vehicle was loaded to its maximum gross weight of 1,806 pounds to test its carrying capacity. This flight lasted 30 minutes, shortened due to expected high winds. All three flights ran on battery power and confirmed the design's handling, performance, and structural integrity. After these tests, NASA decided to expand the aircraft into the Helios Prototype, with work beginning in January 1999.
The Centurion resembled the Pathfinder in appearance but had a much longer wingspan of 206 feet. Its structure was strengthened to carry payloads of up to 600 pounds more efficiently. The wing used a redesigned high-altitude airfoil, and the number of motors increased to 14. The number of underwing pods—housing batteries, flight control components, ballast, and landing gear—rose to four.
Quick Facts
- Aircraft Type
- Remote controlled UAV
- Manufacturer
- AeroVironment
- Primary User
- NASA ERAST Program
- Number Built
- 1
- First Flight
- November 10, 1998
- Developed From
- NASA Pathfinder
- Developed Into
- NASA Helios
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Centurion was originally built to achieve the 100,000 ft altitude on solar power milestone specified by the ERAST project. ERAST program managers determined that an aircraft based on the Pathfinder/Pathfinder Plus concept would be the lowest-risk approach to reaching that altitude goal. A quarter-scale model was test flown at El Mirage Dry Lake on March 4, 1997. The full-size Centurion's maiden flight took place at Rogers Dry Lake on November 10, 1998, lasting 1 hour and 24 minutes. It weighed 1385 lb, including a 150 lb steel anvil hanging on its centerline to simulate a payload. The flight was nearly flawless, followed by a second flight on November 19 lasting 1 hour and 29 minutes before a crowd of VIPs and media. The third and final low-altitude test flight occurred on December 3, with the vehicle loaded to its maximum gross weight of 1806 lb to test weight-carrying capability; this flight lasted 30 minutes, shortened due to anticipated high winds. All flights were on battery power and verified the design's handling qualities, performance, and structural integrity. After these flights, NASA decided to expand the aircraft into the Helios Prototype, with work starting in January 1999.
Reader's Guide
The Centurion's significance lies in its role as the third generation in the NASA Pathfinder series of electrically powered flying wing unmanned aircraft, bridging the Pathfinder Plus and the Helios Prototype. It demonstrated that a design based on the Pathfinder concept could achieve the ERAST program's high-altitude goals with low risk. Its three test flights validated handling, performance, and structural integrity under battery power, carrying payloads up to 600 lb. The Centurion's redesigned high-altitude airfoil, increased wingspan of 206 ft, 14 motors, and four underwing pods for batteries, flight control components, ballast, and landing gear represented a significant step toward long-duration solar-powered flight. The decision to expand the Centurion into the Helios Prototype in January 1999 directly continued the evolutionary line that aimed to create atmospheric satellites for research and communications. The Centurion thus served as a critical proof-of-concept and structural testbed for the technologies that would later be refined in the Helios.
Did You Know?
- The Centurion was the third aircraft in the NASA Pathfinder series of solar- and fuel-cell-powered UAVs.
- Its maiden flight on November 10, 1998, carried a 150 lb steel anvil to simulate a payload.
- The Centurion had a wingspan of 206 ft and was powered by 14 motors.
- After three test flights, NASA decided to expand the Centurion into the Helios Prototype, starting work in January 1999.
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