Leonardo Solo Makes First Unmanned Flight

Leonardo Helicopters' optionally piloted SW-4 Solo recently completed its first flight without a safety pilot aboard, the company has announced. The flight originated at the Taranto-Grottaglie airport in Southern Italy and lasted for 45 minutes, with all systems onboard reported as performing nominally.

Tests on the flight included remote engine start and shut down on the ground; ground run; automatic takeoff and landing; hovering out of ground effect; acceleration to forward flight; automatic waypoint navigation to and from the area of operation; and simulation of a surveillance mission. The helicopter reached an altitude of 1,500 feet and a forward speed of 60 knots during the flight. Leonardo CEO Alessandro Profumo said the Solo’s successful unmanned flight was “further evidence” of the company’s “leading role” in developing unmanned systems.

The Solo RUAS/OPH (rotary unmanned air system/optionally piloted helicopter) is derived from the SW-4, produced by Leonardo in Poland, and equipped with sensors and advanced systems made by the company in Italy and the U.K. Test campaigns began in 2016 in Grottaglie with a pilot aboard and also in Poland to verify the aircraft’s characteristics in various phases of flight in normal and emergency conditions.

Earlier activities in Italy were part of a collaboration that began in 2015 involving Leonardo, Aeroporti di Puglia, and the Distretto Tecnologico Aerospaziale Pugliese for the “Grottaglie Test Bed,” a candidate to become the national and European site for unmanned aircraft testing. The trials are being held in collaboration with the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) and the Italian Air Navigation Service (ENAV).