Solar Flight
Solar Flight Inc. designs, builds, and flies solar-powered and electric aircraft, including the Sunseeker Duo, the world's first two-seat solar-powered airplane. It serves aerospace clients with custom composite design, fabrication, and airframe integration services from bases in California and Italy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersRamona, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Solar Flight does
Solar Flight Inc. is a privately held aerospace engineering firm founded by Eric Raymond in 1986, headquartered in Ramona, California, with a European office and flight testing facility in Voghera, Italy. The company designs, manufactures, and tests solar-powered and electric aircraft, with a portfolio spanning the Sunseeker I and Sunseeker II single-seat record-setting airframes, the Sunseeker Duo (the world's first two-seat solar-powered aircraft, with a 22-meter wingspan and 1,510 solar cells at 23% efficiency), the concept-stage Sunstar HALE platform, a planned Solar 6-Seat Transporter, and the Edelweiss ultralight sailplane. Core technology centers on ultra-lightweight carbon prepreg composite structures, integrated curved solar arrays, lithium battery storage, teetering propeller systems, and custom electric motors (including a 20 kW direct-drive unit developed in-house).
The business operates on a project-based services model — aircraft design, composite fabrication consulting, lightweight propeller production, curved solar panel fabrication for aerospace and marine applications, and airframe integration — supplemented by Eric Raymond's paid speaking engagements at events such as CAFE, the Sustainable Aviation Symposium, and ABACE Shanghai, plus a small direct-to-consumer merchandise line (photo calendars at $26 USD). Past clients and partners include Aurora Flight Sciences (Boeing), Facebook Aquila, Solar Impulse, AeroVironment, Lockheed HALE-D, and DARPA/Boeing Vulture, alongside a current partner ecosystem spanning Air Cost Control, Becker Avionics, Smart Avionics, SunPower, DuPont, Evonik, Schempp-Hirth, and others. The company holds multiple FAI and World Air Games records, is privately held by the founders without disclosed institutional investment, and operates with a small team of approximately 10 core members.
Solar Flight firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solar Flight
- Legal name
- Solar Flight Inc.
- Website
- https://solar-flight.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Solar Flight Inc. designs, builds, and flies solar-powered and electric aircraft, including the Sunseeker Duo, the world's first two-seat solar-powered airplane. It serves aerospace clients with custom composite design, fabrication, and airframe integration services from bases in California and Italy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solar Flight industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar-Powered Electric Aircraft
- NAICS
- Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)
- SIC
- Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft (3721), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fixed-Wing Aircraft Kits & Experimental Aircraft Manufacturing (IMABAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Special-Mission Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (ISR, AEW&C, Patrol) (IMABAAAH)
Keywords
Where Solar Flight is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ramona
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Solar Flight business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Aircraft Design and Fabrication Services: Solar Flight offers aircraft design, fabrication of lightweight carbon prepreg structures, consulting on advanced composites for aerospace, fabrication of light-weight propellers, curved solar panels for aerospace and marine applications, and airframe integration services
- Merchandise Sales (Photo Calendars): Sale of photo calendars featuring Solar Flight aircraft; priced at $26 USD per calendar with shipping costs
- Speaking Engagements: Eric Raymond gives talks at conferences and events about solar aviation experiences
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Photo Calendar 2020 - Individual Unit |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
Solar Flight product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solar Flight designs, manufactures, and flight-tests solar-powered and electric aircraft and provides related aerospace engineering services. Its product line includes the Sunseeker Duo (the world's first two-seat solar-powered aircraft), Sunseeker I and Sunseeker II, the Sunstar HALE platform, the Solar 6-Seat Transporter (in design), and the Edelweiss ultralight sailplane. Core services encompass aircraft design, fabrication of lightweight carbon prepreg composite structures, lightweight propeller manufacturing, curved solar panel fabrication for aerospace and marine use, and airframe integration consulting.
Product overview
Solar Flight specializes in designing, building, and flying solar powered aircraft. Their product portfolio includes: Sunseeker Duo (flagship two-seat solar aircraft - first in the world), Sunseeker I (single-seat crossing aircraft), Sunseeker II (improved single-seat with integrated solar wings), Sunstar (HALE platform for high-altitude missions), Solar 6-Seat Transporter (future electric transport), and Edelweiss (ultralight aerobatic sailplane). Services include aircraft design, lightweight structure fabrication, composite consulting, and solar panel integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sunseeker: Record-setting solar-powered aircraft series by Solar Flight, including Sunseeker I (first solar-powered airplane to cross America, 1990), Sunseeker II (first solar-powered Alps crossing, 2009), and the Sunseeker Duo (world's first two-seat solar-powered aircraft).
- Sunseeker Duo
- Sunseeker II
- Sunseeker I
- Sunstar
- Solar 6-Seat Transporter
- Edelweiss
Products and services
- Sunseeker Duo The world's first two-seat solar-powered aircraft with a 22-meter wingspan, 280 kg empty weight, and 1,510 solar cells at 23% efficiency integrated into wings and tail surfaces. Capable of cruising directly on solar power with two people on board. Owned and operated by Solar Flight as a flagship demonstrator program.
- Sunseeker I Solar Flight's first solar-powered airplane, designed for crossing America. Completed the first solar-powered crossing of the United States in summer 1990. Retired in June 2020 to permanent display at the Technik Museum Sinsheim in Germany.
- Sunseeker II Record-setting single-seat solar airplane with solar cells integrated into the wing structure, a teetering propeller, and four packs of advanced lithium polymer batteries. First solar-powered aircraft to cross the Alps.
- Sunstar (HALE) High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) platform design featuring laminar flow techniques and a tri-motor configuration with front-mounted motors that fold back at altitude and a central pusher motor for station-holding. Configurable for manned or autonomous operation.
- Solar 6-Seat Transporter Solar-electric six-seat aircraft based on the Partenavia Observer design with an optimized wing and large flap for short take-off and landing. Features a lithium battery pack with optional range extender using a generator on unleaded auto gas. Marketed as a future electric transport concept.
- Edelweiss Sailplane Solar Flight's second airplane and a high-performance ultralight sailplane with an empty weight of approximately 100 lbs. Designed for a top speed of 120 knots and fully aerobatic, with water ballast tanks in the wings capable of carrying 150 lbs of water.
- Aircraft Design and Fabrication Services Specialized aerospace engineering services including aircraft design, fabrication of lightweight carbon prepreg structures, consulting on advanced composites for aerospace, fabrication of lightweight propellers, curved solar panels for aerospace and marine applications, and airframe integration. Provided to enterprise customers under custom quotation-based engagements.
- Photo Calendar (Merchandise) Solar Flight-branded photo calendar featuring images of Solar Flight aircraft, sold through the company's online store with PayPal payment processing and shipping to USA, EU, and Slovenia.
Companies that use Solar Flight
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Solar Flight technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature6 records
Solar Flight partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Becker AvionicscoreBecker Avionics became avionics partner to equip the Sunseeker Duo with the AR6201 VHF transceiver. Test flights showed the transceiver works very well for long distance communication capabilities.
- Air Cost ControlcoreAir Cost Control joined Solar Flight as a High-Technology partner. They are an electrical hardware specialist and leading supplier of electrical components to aerospace industry major players including Airbus, ATR, Eurocopter, Dassault Falcon, Daher Socata. They provide crucial electrical components for the Sunseeker Duo and are upgrading the electrical system for better efficiency and weight reduction.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Solar Flight competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BAE Systems (PHASA-35): BAE Systems, with partner Prismatic, developed the PHASA-35 solar HAPS demonstrator for stratospheric missions. It is a broader incumbent peer to Solar Flight in the solar HALE/HAPS market where the Sunstar is positioned.
- AeroVironment: AeroVironment developed the Helios solar-powered HALE UAV and is a major electric UAV prime. It is a broader incumbent peer to Solar Flight in solar HALE platforms; Solar Flight has worked with AeroVironment on classified UAV projects and SoLong.
- Aurora Flight Sciences: Aurora (a Boeing subsidiary) developed the Odysseus/Skydweller solar HALE UAV and is a broader incumbent peer in solar HALE. Solar Flight supported Aurora on a HALE solar-powered drone design.
Direct peers
- Bye Aerospace: Bye Aerospace designs and manufactures electric fixed-wing training aircraft (eFlyer 2/4). It is a direct peer to Solar Flight in the electric light-aircraft category, targeting certification and commercial sale of manned electric airplanes rather than purely experimental demonstrators.
- Pipistrel: Pipistrel (now part of Textron eAviation) produces the Velis Electro, the first type-certified electric airplane, and the Panthera hybrid. It is comparable to Solar Flight as a manufacturer of light electric fixed-wing aircraft serving pilot training and personal aviation markets.
- Eviation Aircraft: Eviation is developing the Alice, a nine-seat all-electric commuter aircraft. It is a direct peer to Solar Flight in the category of electric fixed-wing aircraft pursuing commercial certification, though at a larger scale and a different mission segment.
- Lange Aviation: Lange Aviation produces the Antares self-launching electric motor glider, sharing the Berblinger Competition podium with Solar Flight. It is a direct peer in electric self-launching sailplanes with comparable lightweight composite construction.
- Solar Impulse: Solar Impulse built the first solar-powered aircraft to circumnavigate the globe (HB-SIA and HB-SIB). It is the most direct historical peer to Solar Flight, both building manned solar-powered fixed-wing aircraft for record-setting missions; Solar Flight provided airframe integration services to Solar Impulse.
- PC Aero: PC Aero GmbH builds the Elektra One and Elektra Trainer solar/electric light aircraft in Germany. It is a direct peer to Solar Flight in the small manned electric/solar airplane category with similar two-seat demonstrators and lightweight composite construction.
- Stemme AG: Stemme builds motorized sailplanes including electric variants, and team member Karl Kaeser previously worked there. It is comparable to Solar Flight in the motor glider / electric propulsion light-aircraft segment and overlaps in target customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solar Flight social profiles
Digital presenceSolar Flight financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solar Flight leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Solar Flight funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solar Flight M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solar Flight
What does Solar Flight do?
Solar Flight designs, manufactures, and flight-tests solar-powered and electric aircraft and provides related aerospace engineering services. Its product line includes the Sunseeker Duo (the world's first two-seat solar-powered aircraft), Sunseeker I and Sunseeker II, the Sunstar HALE platform, the Solar 6-Seat Transporter (in design), and the Edelweiss ultralight sailplane. Core services encompass aircraft design, fabrication of lightweight carbon prepreg composite structures, lightweight propeller manufacturing, curved solar panel fabrication for aerospace and marine use, and airframe integration consulting.
Is Solar Flight a public or private company?
Solar Flight is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Solar Flight founded?
Solar Flight was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Solar Flight based?
Solar Flight is headquartered in Ramona, United States, in the North America region.
How does Solar Flight make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Aircraft Design and Fabrication Services are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales (Photo Calendars) and speaking Engagements.
Who are Solar Flight's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BAE Systems (PHASA-35), AeroVironment and Aurora Flight Sciences. Direct peers are Bye Aerospace, Pipistrel, Eviation Aircraft, Lange Aviation, Solar Impulse, PC Aero and Stemme AG.
Does Solar Flight have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solar Flight.
What industry is Solar Flight in?
Solar Flight's product category is Solar-Powered Electric Aircraft. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAAAJ, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Kits & Experimental Aircraft Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMABAAAH, Special-Mission Fixed-Wing Aircraft Manufacturing (ISR, AEW&C, Patrol). Its NAICS code is 336411 and its SIC code is 3720.