Devorto develops new stratospheric aircraft platform called TURN
Devorto is developing a new aircraft architecture aimed at long-duration, solar-powered flight in the stratosphere.
The company, founded and led by Justin Selfridge, says the platform is called the Tethered Uni-Rotor Network, or TURN. It is designed as a high-altitude system that combines the vertical lift and loiter capability of a helicopter with the aerodynamic efficiency of an airplane. The goal is to create an aircraft able to remain aloft for extended periods in the stratosphere, where endurance and energy efficiency are critical.
According to the company’s description, TURN departs from conventional unmanned aircraft design. Devorto is pursuing a configuration intended to solve a long-standing trade-off in aerospace engineering: how to preserve vertical takeoff and hovering capability while also delivering efficient forward flight over very long durations. By merging attributes typically split between rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft, the company is targeting the emerging market for persistent high-altitude platforms.
If the design meets its technical goals, TURN could mark a notable step in stratospheric UAV development. A platform that can lift vertically and sustain efficient solar-powered flight for long periods would widen options for missions that require continuous presence aloft. The broader implication is a potential new pathway for building high-altitude unmanned aircraft with greater endurance and operational flexibility.