Solar-Powered Aircraft

Developments Solar One

 Solar-Powered Aircraft Developments
Solar One
• The Solar-Powered Aircraft Developments Solar One
is a British mid-wing, experimental, manned solar-
powered aircraft that was designed by David
Williams and produced by Solar-Powered Aircraft
Developments under the direction of Freddie To and
first flown on 13 June 1979. It was the third solar-
powered aircraft to fly, after the unmanned
AstroFlight Sunrise and the manned Mauro Solar
Riser.
 Design and development
• Freddie To was a member of the Kremer prize committee
who started a project to produce a human-powered
aircraft to compete for the prize. The resulting aircraft, at
230 lb (104 kg), proved too heavy for human-powered
flight and so was converted to solar power instead. A nose-
mounted pod powerplant was installed consisting of four 1
hp (1 kW) permanent magnet 36 volt DC, 12 amp Bosch
electric motors, powered by 750 solar cells of 3 inch
diameter and a 65 lb (29 kg) Nickel-cadmium battery pack
of 24 cells with a 25 amp hour capacity, connected in series.
The motors are connected by a 3:1 bicycle chain reduction
drive to a 63 in (160 cm) wooden two-bladed propeller,
which turns at a maximum of 1,100 rpm, decreasing with
battery discharge. The engines are controlled with a simple
• The Solar One is constructed of a wooden
structure covered with heat-shrunk Solarfilm
model aircraft covering. The wing was built
in three sections, a centre section and two
outer wing panels to simply storage and
transport. The wing spar is a laminated spruce
girder box-spar design. The tail surfaces are
quickly removable for storage.[1]
 Operational history
• The aircraft's first flight occurred at Lasham Airfield,
Hampshire, United Kingdom and covered just under 0.75 mi
(1.2 km). The pilot was Ken Stewart and the aircraft lifted off at
18 to 20 kn (33 to 37 km/h) and reached 35 kn (65 km/h) and
80 ft (24 m) in height. A second flight on the same day by Bill
Maidment achieved a speed of 42 kn (78 km/h). All flights
were made on battery power that had been recharged on the
ground from the installed solar cells.[1][2]

• An intended flight across the English Channel was abandoned

when the aircraft did not reach intended endurance targets.[2]