Aircraft with orientable solar-power panels

Aircraft with orientable solar-power panels

Keywords Patents, Aerospace industry, Aircraft

In GB Patent 2328657 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt e V describes a solar-powered aircraft comprising wings secured to twin booms which are connected by a stabilator. Propellers powered by electric motors are provided at the wings and at the forward ends of the booms. For energy supply of the electric motors, panels equipped with solar cells are arranged on the booms. The panels are pivotable about their longitudinal axes and thus orientable relative to the aircraft to improve the energy yield from the sun. A neutral point of the panels is arranged to coincide with the centre of gravity for stability. Alternatively a thin solar film is secured to the aircraft by a guy wire and orientated by control tabs. Various other arrangements of solar panels are described as well as detail of the ways in which the panels may be folded or telescoped to reduce drag.