Comments on: The 10 Best Solar Airplane Concepts

By: Adelino F.V.S. Morte

Adelino F.V.S. Morte — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:25:14 +0000

As I see it the only way to go is on a multi-hybrid approach, we live in a multi-hybrid environment, air pressure and temperatures varies with altitude as well as the jetstreams so the aerodynamics and drag has to accommodate to it, including the new lightweight materials (carbon-fibers) but one thing surely must be achieved, freedom from fossil fuels with better storage batteries (size and weight/per kilowatt) and more efficiency in light/electric conversion photocells. State of the art electric energy generation (like a small hydrogen turbine engine) will be part of the hybrid concept. Catapult take-off a consideration. New traveling concepts to accommodate the passenger needs to the carrying of luggage and the limitations on this transitional way to travel and carrying unnecessary weight.

As I see it there are many variables, all of them possible with today’s technology and desires.
Only one question: what are we waiting for?

By: Tadashi Ohta

Tadashi Ohta — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 04:06:29 +0000

A solar plane is possible in that when it is on land, you accumulate solar energy in your battery and when on air, you also accumulate solar energy in your battery. You use accumulated energy from the battery to fly in the air whenever you want to. The wings and the body of the solar plane needs to be covered with as many solar panels as possible.

By: tathasthu tathagata

tathasthu tathagata — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:30:01 +0000

The solar airplanes must also use only solar energy. The airplanes must be designed so that it may take solar energy while flying in the sky, and if it is a cloudy day or night time then there must be a turbine which may give backup energy to the solar cells in the planes while flying.

By: dameion

dameion — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:24:40 +0000

I was just reading the last article about posting your ideas to Innopedia wiki site. This is something that I knew the internet would turn into. People with great ideas post them online and then people looking for great ideas picking them off the internet and putting them to work. If you have a great idea and you think it’s original protect that idea and be weary of posting it online where others stand to profit, unless of course you’re not worried about such a thing happening.

With regards to solar powered flight. I applaud those who have taken up the challenge. However, aviation and automobiles are using the same technology we used a 100 years ago ie. wings and internal combustion engines. I think we need to branch off from the norm and then we’ll see things really start to take off. These ideas were radical at there conception and I think we really need to get radical ourselves since we are faced with a whole new set of problems. ( ie. the end of oil ) …….. just my 2 cents

By: Guy Gadiot

Guy Gadiot — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:58:30 +0000

Please leave your solar airplane concepts ideas on the Innopedia wikisite at innopedia.wikidot.com.

Innopedia is part of the European Seventh Framework Programme CREATE project. Visit the site and learn how your innovative ideas could reach the aeronautics community.

By: Laszlo

Laszlo — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:29:08 +0000

I think the problem the solar air plains is every body
just thinking put more solar pannels on the wings.
Could be use more wings, using wind power in the wings
battery power, get the air plain lighter by using helium in the empty places in in the body’s of plane…

By: Jaime Norman Velasco Uribe

Jaime Norman Velasco Uribe — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:49:34 +0000

Time to make tour demonstrations and prize competitions in airports and natural circuits around the world to test the reliability in front of everybody, like a Solar Air Challenge, In South America, In North America, In Europe, in Asia, a kind of race and recreational use for Extreme Ecofriendly trend pioneers, entrepreneurs, community citizens are glad because the benefits to spread and extend the variety of renewable energy use around the World. Better Natural and Urban Environment is the mandatory Goal.

By: John C

John C — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:01:46 +0000

All the designs I have seen are more or less ‘conventional’ There is some new technology that might be adapted to create a far better mousetrap but it would require a quite radical change in airframe design to exploit fully. This doesn’t have to mean expensive or complicated, in fact it could be the exact opposite.

We have a world-wide patent pending on the technology but are not aviation experts so haven’t a clue whose door we need to knock on to share our thoughts.

By: bruce

bruce — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:30:32 +0000

When will solar powered flight take people to the skies? No fuel cells. Batteries charged soley by solar panels. Or has it been done in a practical fashion for commuter flights?

By: BOMBOVA

BOMBOVA — Sun, 25 May 2008 04:32:26 +0000

This is a very creative page. The SoLong gets my creativity flowing as it lends itself to video camera and radio communications of a personal nature. I am a dedicated supporter of this technology.