SunFlight Gliders

[galgot]

One of them is Solar powered twinset glider SunSeeker Duo. Nice machine:

SUNSEEKER DUO - Solar Flight

Sunseeker Duo – First Two seat solar powered aircraft The Sunseeker Duo is the most advanced solar powered airplane in the world. It is Solar Flightʼs third solar powered airplane. It has a wingspan of 22 meters; an empty weight of 280 kg and 1510 solar cells with 23% efficiency. The airplane is...

www.solar-flight.com

View: https://youtu.be/uBA4XeMddMY


Was reading the AQUILINE RPV (CIA) thread and thought solar powering would fit well for a super long range bird like RPV. With the solar panels recharging some batteries, and a AI that would check for thermals and when to run the motor on solar or battery, could stay up all day in a good weather environment.

 

[riggerrob]

Pretty!
Amusing how they turn on the electric motor to taxi.
Hah!
Hah!
A 3-seater model would do well in the tourist market. Seat the pilot in the front with a pair of tourists side-by-side at the C. of G.

 

[TomcatViP]

Personally, I think it's stupid. What would be the comparative cost of an array of flat solar pannels that can stay day long outside with an electrical plug?

Rock'n roll calls for such things like coolness, factoring bad boyness etc... Engineering calls for cost & efficiency. No more.