The
Solar Powered R/C Airplane
In February 2016 I began a
15-month effort to design and build a solar powered R/C glider. It was an
entirely-new design from ground-up. The 10-foot wingspan model incorporates 32 high-efficiency
solar cells to power the plane's radio control system and a small electric
motor that provides propulsion.
Its maiden flight was on May
27, 2017 at the flying field of the Santa Fe Dam Radio
Control Modelers located in Duarte, California. The first part of the
flight can be seen here.
This airplane can fly on a clear day as long as the
sun is high in the sky, without burning a drop of fuel or relying on charged
batteries.
Design Notes
Solar-Electric
Generation (PDF)
Sustained Flight
Power Requirements, Minimum Weight (PDF)
Sustained Flight
Power Requirements, Maximum Weight (PDF)
Wing
Aerodynamics, Maximum Weight
Wing
Aerodynamics, Minimum Weight
Solar
Altitude by Month and Hour (PDF)
Mechanical Sketches & Drawings
Airplane Front
& Top Views (PDF)
Electrical
Charge
Controller Schematic (PDF)
Construction Photos
Testing
Useful Links
Airfoils:
http://airfoiltools.com/airfoil/
http://airfoiltools.com/calculator/reynoldsnumber
Lift and Drag:
https://www.ajdesigner.com/phpwinglift/wing_lift_equation_force.php
http://airfoiltools.com/airfoil/
https://wright.nasa.gov/airplane/lifteq.html
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/VirtualAero/BottleRocket/airplane/induced.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift-induced_drag
Folding Propeller:
Outrunner Motor:
https://www.modelmotors.cz/product/detail/388/
Carbon Fiber Spar & Joiner:
https://www.rockwestcomposites.com/
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