Could a plane be solar powered?

Question

sitting in an open runway soaking up sun that could store energy in the battery and being close to the sun gives it more power

iknow thinks might run unto like birds or the pressuere or something and crack them alot but could u put a protective barrier over it

Answer 1

It's all about weight, mate. (couldn't resist that).

<>http://www.solar-flight.com/>

and the Brits

<>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/10/solar...

and Nasa

<>http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/P...

you will notice they are ALL built of the lightest materials possible. State of the art has still some way to go to allow payloads.

Answer 2

Perhaps, but what if its an overnight flight?

Answer 3

Power would not be the problem, weight is the issue

Answer 4

Potentially a very small, ultralight aircraft could be built that would fly, a drone wwith little or no weight, or passenger for that matter.

Poroblem is energy to mass ratios, the surfcae area you would need to generate enough electrical power to sustain flight, using any forseeable solar panel design, would weigh just too much.  And adding more panels would only take you farther down the path of not getting off the ground instead of helping.  If you wanted to store energy for later or emergency use, or during low or no sunlight, the battery weight would just make it even worse!

Answer 5

The batteries would weigh so much that even for short flights you could have no payload.

You need to carry enough batteries to go the whole route as you can't count on the sun.

Answer 6

It's already been done, by NASA.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/...

EDIT: I hadn't read your other question.  I took this question at face-value (without knowing you were speaking of passenger aircraft).  Given the stresses on the unmanned NASA solar-powered craft, I'd say, with current technology it isn't possible to make a solar-powered airliner.

.

Answer 7

nope. 2 dangerous

it's hard to factor in when clouds will come

then wat if you're on an extremely long flight.....

it wud be hard 2 factor in several aspects of weather that may occur.

i assume it is possible....but neither wise nor safe.

and like the person said above....what happens at night???

Answer 8

That's a great idea! Yes, I truly think it could. But I'm not sure about cloud interference...

You have a really innovative mind. Do some more research. Maybe you'll save the world from global warming

Answer 9

With all your added details, the answer is NO - there is not enough energy falling on the area available on an airplane to build it of a material strong enough to carry passengers or backup power supplies or to have much speed.   The planes that might use solar energy are designed to fly high above the clouds and either spy or act as communication links (more stable than satellites and cheaper) but would have to be taken off under very quiet and stable air conditions to get above the weather.