Solar Wonder - electric flyier without batteries

by House Of Noob | September 3, 2013 | (24) Posted in Projects

Fourteen feet of wing holding 64 solar cells generating 60watts on a cloudy day to fly this monster with ease.

This was "donated" to us by the engineer (Jim Hynes) and Bulider (Fred Hesse) and is capable of 24 hour flight - soon as we add in some batteries that can charge during the day to be used through the night.

The elevator is wider than most park flyers at 45"

OK, technically it has one battery, but it is for the reciever. It is not wired to the motor at all.

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

COMMENTS

jack111 on September 3, 2013
Coolest firkin thing ever show more videos
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dammuozz on September 4, 2013
I agree, always wondered if a sun-powered plane could be built but never found videos or documentation about it. I would really like to see and know more details about!!
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Air-headed Aviator on September 4, 2013
If you want to see a full sized Solar powered aircraft, you could look up Helios. It is a UAV aircraft.
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goeland86 on September 16, 2013
If you want to see a full-size solar powered manned aircraft, look up the solar impulse :)
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Frosty0_0 on September 3, 2013
I'd love to see a build log and how you made the solar wings!

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Capt Buscemi on September 4, 2013
Absolutely beautiful. The best part is what I love most about this hobby: that ordinary people are genuinely pushing the boundaries of what is possible in aviation as a whole. Clearly built on a modest budget, this aircraft is an inspiration. Lovely work guys.

My only suggestion is that Windestal needs to work on a discus-launch version.
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Finncopter on September 4, 2013
What materials are used on those wings and other parts? Carbon/glassfibre? Balsa/plywood?

Are you going to make a 24 h flight? If so, please put a camera onboard and make a few minute timelapse of whole flight. That would be awesome :)
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House Of Noob on September 4, 2013
LOL - glad you all like it. We did not build it, we inherited it. That being said - we are going through the documentation and part specs now. I'll post more as we get it into an organized package for all of you.

I can tell you some information however. The fuselage is a balsa-plywood build 80" in length. The prop is custom hand-made and when unfolded have a 44" diameter. Wings are balsa i-beam spars with reinforcement rods and boxed sleeve connectors to set the dihedral. The mid and two end sections of the wings create the 14 foot span. The 64 "Sun Power A 300" solar cells are wired to produce an 18v output into the electronics for motor operation.

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wanabeRCexpert on December 6, 2016
that is really awesome
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Ion Rc on September 4, 2013
That is so cool! Can it fly forever?
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RoyBro on September 4, 2013
Do the solar panels generate enough power to keep the plane flying? Or do the batteries have to charge while the plane is grounded?
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RoyBro on September 4, 2013
Sorry, I didn't read the title, only the description.

So you should be able to wire in the receiver as well, don't you think?
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danyd on September 4, 2013
if you make a kf airfoil you can mount the cells with ease. i get mine from sofis light, get the craked ones they produse the same power but cost half as much.i use them to make my solar panels.
cool plane
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Techno16 on September 4, 2013
that prop is huge!
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Noobi1951 on September 4, 2013
That is absolutely beautiful!! Are there any legal problems with a plane of that size?
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ghostrider03z on September 4, 2013
wow some people really dont read..."wow you did a really nice job building that plane"...he clearly says he received it from two people
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rcspaceflight on September 5, 2013
I don't need to read. I have the internet.
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andy_spoo on September 6, 2013
Cool :-) What motor and prop are you using? Did all that wind help or hinder the take-off?
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jrbemis on September 9, 2013
Wow. Awesome job on the build!
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BuckE67 on September 10, 2013
Very cool!
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Left Bros FPV on September 30, 2013
Amazing!

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cladeport on September 28, 2018
is there any way to see more details? the video is not available (at least for me....)
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House_Of_Noob

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Solar Wonder - electric flyier without batteries