Next generation of aerospace professionals gain hands-on experience operating the world’s largest commercial solar-powered aircraft
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Skydweller Aero is proud to support the next generation of aerospace professionals through its partnership with the University of Oklahoma, providing students with the opportunity to contribute directly to the operation of one of the world’s most advanced autonomous aircraft.
During Skydweller’s FLEX 26 Naval Exercise flight campaign, four University of Oklahoma students participated as interns supporting mission operations of the Skydweller aircraft — a 236-foot-wingspan solar-powered autonomous aircraft designed to enable persistent, long-duration flight.
Following intensive training, the students supported key operational roles including air vehicle operations, mission planning, and operational meteorology during a record-setting flight campaign in which Skydweller completed more than eight days of continuous flight — 192 hours and 14 minutes — without landing or refueling.
The students supported a distributed mission operations team spanning Skydweller facilities in Oklahoma City, Stennis, Mississippi, and Madrid, Spain. Their contributions included flight planning, weather analysis, energy modeling, airspace coordination, and operational support required to execute a complex autonomous flight mission.
“Skydweller’s mission requires not only advanced technology, but also a new generation of aerospace professionals prepared to operate and advance these capabilities,” said Dr. Robert Miller, co-founder and CEO of Skydweller Aero. “The University of Oklahoma students who joined our team brought strong technical foundations, professionalism, and the ability to quickly contribute to a highly complex flight operation.”
The internship opportunity reflects the growing connection between Oklahoma’s aerospace education programs and the state’s expanding role as a center for advanced aviation innovation.
“Developing the future workforce for autonomous and sustainable aviation requires opportunities for students to engage with real-world aerospace missions,” Miller added. “These students demonstrated the talent and commitment needed to support the next era of flight.”
Skydweller congratulates University of Oklahoma students Mackenzie Moore, Nathan Ungetheim, Jasper Chan, and Liam Thompson for their contributions to FLEX 26 and thanks the University of Oklahoma for its continued partnership in preparing the next generation of aerospace leaders.
Read the University of Oklahoma’s full story: OU Students Make History Operating World’s Largest Commercial Solar Drone