A communication system for supporting communications with a target market
area. The system includes one or more solar-powered aircraft maintained
in, or successively passing through, flight stations or flight patterns
around the market area. Each of the aircraft targets limited beamwidth
communication antennas on a substantial portion of the target market
area. The control system is configured to fly selective flight patterns
depending on the aircraft characteristics and the flight conditions. The
flight patterns may emphasize high-power-generation patterns such as
flying away from the sun for aircraft with wing-mounted solar cells.