X721 Heliblade readies for Test Flight Q1 2026 Chairman Jean Jacques Dordain confirms major progress скачать в хорошем качестве

X721 Heliblade readies for Test Flight Q1 2026 Chairman Jean Jacques Dordain confirms major progress

Jean-Jacques Dordain is a distinguished aerospace engineer and one of Europe’s most influential space leaders, best known for serving as Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) from 2003 to 2015 HELIBLADE PRODUCTS Heliblade - Models In 2025, the company is introducing its first stratospheric drone, engineered for long-endurance flights in both the lower and very high stratosphere (reaching 20 km). The Heliblade is born. A drone revolutionary in its operation and unique in its design. The design of a heliblade is different from the traditional multi-rotor drone format. The invention features several wings that harness centrifugal forces to ensure stability and robustness. The birth of heliblade began in the early 2010s stemming from observations of the centrifugal forces exhibited by a maple seed (samara). Inspired by its biomimicry, this new flying craft is: simple, ultralight, economical, long-enduring, durable, and stealthy. The heliblade concept. It's a clever use of natural forces, a paradigm shift that proves we can do better with less. Being the lightest flying object to reach the highest altitude is a revolution, pushing exploration limits with a minimum of resources. The heliblade development. To date, the company X721 has two demonstrators, a simulator, and a ProtoFlight for outdoor testing. The learning process, augmented by AI, allows swift advancement; nonetheless, the adage of learning to walk before running applies. Over the past several years, the initial Heliblade prototype has been performing ascents and stratospheric flights in the simulator with near-daily performance improvements.The Heliblade is powered by electric motors supplied by solar generators. The inaugural flight. The prototype will make its inaugural flight in early 2026 after several successful tests in the simulator and outdoors. The initial aim will be to fly the world's lightest flying structure for its dimensions: a 14-meter wingspan and under 3 kilograms in weight. The future of stratospheric flight applications is to be conquered. The Heliblade is a versatile flying craft for aerial and near-space missions. An affordable strategic solution This low-cost technological innovation delivers optimal performance while maintaining controlled expenditures. Simple, effective, and economical, it offers superior quality at an accessible price. This revolutionary drone extends the limits of exploration with minimal resources. Its eco-responsible impact The Heliblade is reusable, sustainable, produces zero CO2 emissions, and generates no space debris. This invention represents a strategic solution for the future because it reduces dependence on new orbital launches while eliminating the risks associated with the proliferation of debris in space. The X721 team believes that we must stop cluttering low Earth orbit and rely on HALE vehicles like the Heliblade. "We call on all heads of space programs worldwide to curb the proliferation of space debris. To date, no credible solution has succeeded in reducing their number." Pierre-Eric Lys ( Founder and CEO of X721) The missions of the Heliblade will be limitless, such as mapping and 3D visualization of the Earth to understand the evolution of climatic phenomena like the glacial melt, sea-level rise, heatwaves, floods, mega-fires, migration tracking, ocean acidification, monitoring climate commitments and the detection of polluting sources, earthquakes, etc. Heliblades will be important actors in helping us live in challenging terrestrial environments. The markets for heliblades are multi-faceted, diverse, and virtually limitless, catering to private and public sectors across the globe. By the 2030 horizon, X721 and its Heliblade will be able to participate in programs such as the European Solidarity Corps, rescEU, OptFor-EU, civil security, meteorology, precision agriculture, the chemical and energy sectors, multi-site transportation, etc. In the future, this technological innovation could operate to other low-density atmospheres for instance, on the planet Mars.