Introduction

A team of seven science club students set out on an innovative project.  They were motivated by the earlier winning solar car project at Queen’s University.  The team wondered whether it was possible to build a solar airplane.  A feasibility study was set up to examine the possibility of such an undertaking.  If successful, the study might be extended to use rechargeable batteries with solar power, for indefinite endurance under cloudy skies. Conceivably, this design might also carry a small payload and be used as an unmanned aerial surveillance or research vehicle.

Purpose:

The objective was to design and test the smallest radio-controlled airplane that would fly entirely on solar power.  In theory, this airplane would fly as long as there was consistent sunlight, since endurance would not be limited by fuel or battery power.