This disclosure provides a communications system using a span-loaded flying
wing, traveling at relatively slow speeds, that can remain airborne for long periods
of time. The communications system uses the airplane as a long term high altitude
platform that can serve at lest one of a number of potential functions. One function
is to link to a ground station using radio wave signals and a satellite using optical
signals. Another function is to serve as a relay station between ground communication
nodes and individual end-users. Because the aircraft can tightly hold a station,
the end-user's antennas do not need to be continuously adjustable. For such a system,
a large number of aircraft can be used, with the end-user antennas being configured
for a narrow beamwidth so as to allow frequency reuse for different communication links.