The ICAV SPI demonstrator in flight at Wormwood Scrubs

Aircraft

Every watt.
Every gram.

Our target is the under 50 kg endurance record.

Our demonstrator in flight · RS Student Fund
Endurance benchmark82 h
Our goal100 h
2026 demonstrator4.2 m
Demonstrator mass8 kg

The
demonstrator.

Our January 2026 demonstrator helped us refine launch procedure and flight controls for the next airframe.

Aluminium and carbon fibre spars, balsa skin and 3D printed components keep the structure light. The first flight ran on batteries, with provision for solar cells.

Aircraft systems
01

Aerodynamics

Wing geometry, aeroelasticity and drag.

02

Structures

Stiffness, weight, transport and assembly.

03

Solar + Storage

Daytime power, battery charging and overnight energy use.

04

Flight Controls

Autonomy, telemetry and flight performance.

2026 programme

Our next
aircraft.

Great Exhibition Road FestivalOur new airframe on display
August 2026System integration and ground testing
September 2026First flight preparations
ICAV SPI solar cells connected to a multimeter for an outdoor test
Solar cell testingICAV SPI
Two ICAV SPI aircraft design renders
Aircraft design studiesICAV SPI
Lightweight wing structure under construction on the workshop bench
Wing constructionICAV SPI