Solar powered aircraft

Patent · Mon Nov 14 23:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5310832

Phillips, W H

A cruciform wing structure for a solar powered aircraft is disclosed. Solar cells are mounted on horizontal wing surfaces. Wing surfaces with spanwise axis perpendicular to surfaces maintain these surfaces normal to the sun's rays by allowing aircraft to be flown in a controlled pattern at a large bank angle. The solar airplane may be of conventional design with respect to fuselage, propeller and tail, or may be constructed around a core and driven by propeller mechanisms attached near the tips of the airfoils.

• Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Patent Number(s): US 4415133
• OSTI ID: 5310832
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140909 -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Miscellaneous Solar Applications-- (1980-)
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320201* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Transportation-- Air & Aerospace
AIRCRAFT
CONVERSION
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PROPULSION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR ELECTRIC PROPULSION
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR EQUIPMENT