- Celeste Ecoflyers daS10, an inflatable drone, could fly more than 10 hours
- Its 8 meter pneumatic wing replaces a large part of the structure of a conventional aircraft
- The drone could travel about 500 miles in one direction.
A French aerospace startup is developing a 24-foot inflatable drone designed to stay airborne for more than 10 hours while traveling about 500 miles one way.
The company recently completed the first flight tests of the drone dubbed daS10, which uses a pressurized textile casing and pneumatic wings.
Once deflated, the drone could fit in a normal car with its seats folded, giving operators an unusual transportation option.
Inflatable wings could extend drones’ endurance
Celeste Ecoflyers developed the daS10 around an 8-meter fixed-wing structure that uses internal air pressure to maintain its shape during flight.
The inflated wing generates lift while avoiding some of the structural weight associated with conventional aircraft designs.
This approach aims to reduce power demand and allow the drone to remain airborne for much longer periods than many small multirotor systems.
The company is developing this aircraft for remote inspection, surveillance and logistics missions that require persistent air coverage.
Small consumer drones such as the DJI Mavic 4 Pro can stay airborne for around 50 minutes before needing a recharge.
This endurance may not be sufficient to monitor pipelines, isolated infrastructure, or large areas affected by disasters.
Longer-range unmanned aircraft can fulfill these missions, although traditional fixed-wing platforms and vertical takeoff aircraft may have higher acquisition, transportation and operating costs.
The daS10 instead relies on a lightweight structure that can be deflated when the plane is not flying.
Celeste Ecoflyers describes the aircraft as a new class of aerial systems designed to make persistent cover lighter, safer and easier to deploy.
However, the company has not disclosed all operational specifications necessary to independently evaluate these claims.
Compact transport meets long-range flight operations
The drone’s inflatable structure could allow teams to transport a large aircraft without requiring a dedicated trailer or specialized ground equipment.
Once deployed, operators would inflate the structure before preparing the aircraft for its mission.
The design could therefore be suitable for remote operations where storage space and transport access are limited.
Potential missions include inspecting long pipelines, surveying disaster areas, and monitoring areas where sending crewed aircraft would create unnecessary risks.
The drone also has a range of approximately 500 miles in one direction, allowing it to travel significant distances before returning to its launch area.
The daS10 is still an emerging aircraft concept, and its actual performance will depend on flight testing, payload capacity, weather tolerance and the durability of its textile structure.
Its ability to combine long range with compact transportation could make this design useful for operators needing extensive coverage without conventional large aircraft infrastructure.
Via Céleste Ecoflyers | Yanko Design
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