Sarasota test pilot eyes next electric flight altitude record in Helios Horizon

Sarasota-based engineer and test pilot Miguel Iturmendi flew his electric aircraft, Helios Horizon, to an altitude of 22,000 feet – the highest ever for a multi-seat electric aircraft – over Independence, California on April 16 to set an unofficial world record.

Iturmendi plans to replicate the feat sometime in late May – weather permitting – with a judge from the National Aeronautical Association present to formalize the world record, which would also make the Helios Horizon the current highest flying human-piloted electric aircraft in the world.

“It feels like a big accomplishment to me − we’re following our own schedule, that’s very unusual,” Iturmendi said.

The 22,000-foot mark is about 1,000 feet higher than the current record.

“I was going to go higher and ATC (air traffic control) leveled me off,” he added.

The mark is a key step in Iturmendi’s quest to pilot the Helios Horizon into the stratosphere in early to mid-2025.

Last June, Iturmendi captured two world records for aircraft lighter than 500 kilos near Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Iturmendi flew a two-battery configuration of the plane to a height of 16,023 feet for the altitude world record, then continued for three minutes of level flight for a second world record on precision flight.

On April 16, he flew a four-battery configuration of the Helios Horizon to 22,000 feet, and returned with a little more than 14% of power left. That translates to having more than 55% of the power left in a six-battery version of the craft, which is what he anticipates will be required to fly the Helios Horizon into the stratosphere.

That version of the plane will also be powered by a larger propeller and ride on longer wings.

Who is Miguel Iturmendi?

A native of Spain who now calls Sarasota home, Iturmendi served for more than a decade on the engineering team and as an experimental test pilot for the Perlan Project, a record-setting stratospheric glider, for more than three years as lead test pilot for the solar electric powered Solar Stratos and lead experimental test pilot for Skydweller Aero’s Solar Impulse 2.

He earned the Living Legend of Aviation Award in 2019 for flying at a then-record 66,000 feet as test pilot of the Perlan 2 glider.

What’s the goal with the Helios Horizon?

Helios Horizon and other experimental electric aircraft are conducting high altitude research that aviation professionals hope can one day lead to electric passenger aircraft – which produce 4% of all emissions worldwide – or cargo aircraft.

Iturmendi has previously said that piloting the aircraft into the stratosphere is proof of concept to show that an electric aircraft can fly higher than a jet aircraft without polluting the atmosphere.

Once thee Helios Horizon logs an official flight at 22,000 feet, the goal will be to soar to 32,000 feet – an absolute record for electric flight, which was set in April 2021 by the Solar Impulse, a $260 million Swiss project.

Working with a team of expert volunteers and the backing of several donors, Helios Horizon has cost less than $500,000 – though Iturmendi is always looking for additional investors.

He held a fundraising meet-and-greet at a friend’s photo studio in January.

On Feb. 17, Iturmendi assembled Helios Horizon inside The Mall at University Town Center and answered questions about the project. Iturmendi and project manager Javier Merino are setting up a project website. Until then, updates can be found at https:///www.linkedin.com/company/helios-horizon.

While he still has a few consultant jobs – including assignments in June and August – Iturmendi is dedicating more time to Helios Horizon.

On the cusp of pressurized flight

To achieve the 32,000 foot record and eventually reach the stratosphere, Iturmendi must use a partial pressure suit. It passed altitude tests Nov. 8, 2023 in a special lab at the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota.

The school conducted the tests pro bono, because of Iturmendi’s friendship with Dr Pablo De Leon, chairman of the university’s Space Studies Department.

De Leon was one of several special guests at the Helios Horizon showcase event in January.

Iturmendi will return to North Dakota in October for an integrated test on all components that will be used on Helios Horizon.

Iturmendi plans to attempt the 32,000-foot record later this year or in early 2025. Because the window for such attempts is dependent both on weather and air clearance, he’s no longer putting firm dates on the schedule.

The longer wings needed for the Helios Horizon to soar above 40,000 feet may be ready as soon as the end of September.

“They just finished the mold for them in the Netherlands,” Iturmendi said.

By then, the plane may be powered by newer, higher density batteries. Finances factor into the schedule too. Iturmendi figures that Helios Horizon is fully funded until the end of June.

“Money and time puts you in your place,” Iturmendi said. “That’s what we’re planning and we will check with reality and reality will put us where we need to be.”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota's Iturmendi may claim another electric flight altitude record