solar powered airplanes

[russ]

A solar powered UAV that could remain aloft for years and serve as a transmitter to beam TV or XM-type audio to everyone in a city sounds pretty practical. So far they've remained up there for up to two weeks at a time. Keep in mind we have solar powered satellites up there that have been pretty useful over the years.

Two totally different items - by a few thousand percent.

[Andrew18]

As a total new guy to the solar world. I think the idea of a solar powered plane is very cool. A lot of ideas come from the modeling world. A small r/c plane today, then a mid sized ultralite tomorrow. Some day a full scale Cub.
As a BIG fan of r/c planes, I would love to build a solar powered r/c plane. I just might have to try it. Maybe a build thread here on SPT.
-Andrew

[russ]

Andrew - the plane in question is pretty much a glider - any cargo allowance is virtually zero. It is a platform in the air. Another generation of technology comes along with lightweight storage and better conversion ratios maybe more can be done but today it is a classroom type project.

[Tesla]

As a total new guy to the solar world. I think the idea of a solar powered plane is very cool. A lot of ideas come from the modeling world. A small r/c plane today, then a mid sized ultralite tomorrow. Some day a full scale Cub.
As a BIG fan of r/c planes, I would love to build a solar powered r/c plane. I just might have to try it. Maybe a build thread here on SPT.
-Andrew

Andrew, I'm into R/C as well and there was a group of guys who built a R/C airplane around our filed....before it became a highway and we left to another location. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZlc-...eature=related

[Andrew18]

Oh wow. Thats very cool. Thanks for sharing it. Do you still fly?
-Andrew

Andrew, I'm into R/C as well and there was a group of guys who built a R/C airplane around our filed....before it became a highway and we left to another location. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZlc-...eature=related

[DBaldwin]

I started working at a solar store not to long ago. I started with some general knowledge, not a ton. I used to joke with the guys working there about a solar vacuum. Its a joke because solar just doesn't work that way, and it seems like everyone is wasting all this time trying to power the things in there homes that require huge amounts of electrical power. Don't get solar thinking you'll run your refrigerator, and heaters off it. instead get solar to cut costs. If your panels are covering all the little things your bill is going to be a lot less. Also with out the grid you HAVE TO HAVE BATTERIES, they are expensive and need replaced. Yesterday our battery guy came and my shoulders still feel them so putting lets say 500lbs of batteries in a glider just seems foolish (or a car ever wonder why those solar cars look so funny, they have a huge battery bank). There are better ways of doing this, much better ways than having UAVs flying around New York broadcasting XM radio.

[Andrew18]

Solar power is new to me. Thats one reason why I'm here. Your statement is very true and I'm not that blind to the fact. Thanks for the info.
-Andrew

I started working at a solar store not to long ago. I started with some general knowledge, not a ton. I used to joke with the guys working there about a solar vacuum. Its a joke because solar just doesn't work that way, and it seems like everyone is wasting all this time trying to power the things in there homes that require huge amounts of electrical power. Don't get solar thinking you'll run your refrigerator, and heaters off it. instead get solar to cut costs. If your panels are covering all the little things your bill is going to be a lot less. Also with out the grid you HAVE TO HAVE BATTERIES, they are expensive and need replaced. Yesterday our battery guy came and my shoulders still feel them so putting lets say 500lbs of batteries in a glider just seems foolish (or a car ever wonder why those solar cars look so funny, they have a huge battery bank). There are better ways of doing this, much better ways than having UAVs flying around New York broadcasting XM radio.

[audrey.hudges]

I guess, it is possible to have a solar powered airplane and it really depends on the capacity of the plane. It is better to have a safety test before you will take it on travel.

Mod note - last of the trash links - banned