Solar Powered Airplanes

With more and more people interested in preserving our Earth inventors continue to develop solar powered vehicles. Aviation has led product innovation since the Wright Brothers first took to the air in 1903.

Back in 1979 Eric Raymond began dreaming of solar powered flight when Larry Mauro demonstrated his solar powered ultralight glider named “Solar Riser”.

In 1981 the “Solar Challenger” added to the credibility of solar powered flight which encouraged Eric Raymond to founded Solar Flight and began construction of the “Sunseeker” powered glider.

After some battery powered flights in 1990 and disappointment with motor and prop mechanisms he finally settled on an AC brushless motor and folding prop. During the month of August, 1990, “Sunseeker” made 21 flights across the country accumulating a total of 121 hours in the air.

Following the success of “Sunseeker I” modifications were made to the aircraft and in 2002 a newly designed wing was built with greater surface are for solar cells and a new technique for integrating the latest solar cell technology into the wing structure rather than bonding them to the surface of a conventional wing.

In 2006 a more powerful motor was constructed for the airplane which was twice as powerful as “Sunseeker Is” motor, and a unique teetering propeller was designed which significantly reduced vibration.

The wings of the aircraft contain 4 packs of advanced lithium polymer batteries along with new electronics have added to the ability of “Sunseeker II” to log more time in the air than any other manned solar powered airplanes combined.

“Sunseeker II” uses battery power for takeoff and to increase altitude but can maintain level flight solely on solar power. It only takes 90 minutes to recharge the batteries, and the aircraft has never been forced to land before late in the afternoon.

The best performance comes when the aircraft climbs above the clouds and flies on direct solar energy in the bright clear sunlight conditions. The airplane flies at around 40 mph on solar power but can accelerate to 80 mph when battery power is added.

With the motor shut down it takes hours to glide down for landing, and it usually requires the use of speed brakes to get down before sunset.

About The Author

John M. White, Mba is an aviation enthusiast and entrepreneur developing websites on the internet related to aviation and solar energy. You can follow him at his blog All Things Aviation and learn more about solar energy homes and residential solar power systems at Home Energy Solutions.