Tributes paid to ‘brilliant’ pioneering Farnborough aviator

Tributes have been paid to an aviation pioneer, who helped design a world record-breaking aircraft, after he died suddenly while cycling near his home in Church Crookham.

Chris Kelleher was the driving force behind the solar-powered aircraft, Zephyr 7, which in 2010 flew continuously for 14 days at altitudes of up to 72,000ft – the longest un-refuelled flight of any aircraft ever.

The 58-year-old was also a former chairman of the Royal Aircraft Establishment Aero Club at Farnborough.

Following his death on August 22, friends and former colleagues have paid tribute to him.

Having flown with him for many years, MP for Aldershot Sir Gerald Howarth said Mr Kelleher was remarkable in both his achievements and spirit.

“While his brilliance as an engineer and pilot was always clear it was his modesty and kindness which endeared him to all those lucky enough to know him,” he said.

“His vision and passion drove him to remarkable feats, yet he always had time to help others develop their skills and possessed the most incredible store of knowledge from which he gave freely.”

Sir Gerald added Mr Kelleher had a “brilliant mind”, which he applied initially to ensuring the successful launch and operation of the UK’s military communications satellites, Skynet.

Mr Kelleher worked on all six of the country’s Skynet 4 satellites and also on two spacecraft for Nato, developing himself an international reputation for orbital dynamics and satellite operations used by both the UK and US governments.

His focus, however, remained with aircraft, and he won the UK advanced aerobatics championships three times.

‘Expertise and humour’

In 2002, he combined his passion and technical brilliance to design the first of Farnborough-based QinetiQ’s Zephyr unmanned aircraft.

The Zephyr 3 was a solar-powered, electric aircraft with a wingspan of over 12m but a total mass of only 12kg.

Building a team of engineers at Farnborough, he then led its development through to the Zephyr 7, which in 2010 smashed the world record for the longest ever un-refuelled flight.

Despite the best efforts of governments and global giants such as Google, Facebook and Boeing, Mr Kelleher’s record still stands today.

Current RAE Aero Club chairman and colleague of Mr Kelleher’s at QinetiQ, Bob Howarth, said: “Chris has been a mainstay of the club for more years than I can remember, always willing to offer his time, expertise and humour when required.

“His unstinting support for the club and its activities will not be forgotten.”

The Zephyr programme was brought into Airbus in 2013, where Mr Kelleher continued to develop the aircraft.

He worked on improving the aerodynamics, reducing the mass further, designing a larger variant for new payloads and also leading three further flight campaigns, including the first civil flight of this new breed of ‘high altitude pseudo-satellites’.

Alongside his professional achievements, Mr Kelleher remained dedicated to his family. He is survived by his wife and four children – a legacy more valuable to him than the world record-breaking aircraft which will remain inextricably linked with his name.