The Flight of Helios . ... Credit Copyright: Carla Thomas, courtesy DFRC , NASA Explanation: An example of solar-powered flight, NASA's Helios aircraft flew almost one hundred years after the Wright brothers' historic flight on December 17, 1903. Pictured here at 10,000 feet in in skies northwest of Kauai, Hawaii in August 2001, the remotely piloted Helios is traveling at about 25 miles per hour. ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...