The Sunseeker Duo is a twin seat all-electric solar-recharged powered

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines ...

. Designed by Eric Scott Raymond, the plane can take off and achieve enough height for the motor to be switched off and follow

thermal A thermal column (or thermal) is a rising mass of buoyant air, a convective current in the atmosphere, that transfers heat energy vertically. Thermals are created by the uneven heating of Earth's surface from solar radiation, and are an example ...

s like a

glider (sailplane) A glider or sailplane is a type of glider aircraft used in the leisure activity and sport of gliding (also called soaring). This unpowered aircraft can use naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to gain altitude. Sailpla ...

, allowing the batteries to be recharged through the

solar cell A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electronic device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical and chemical phenomenon.

s on the wings. Still in testing phase, the company, Solar Flight, does not provide information on the range.

Development

The Sunseeker Duo is a high aspect ratio side-by-side seat composite construction high-wing aircraft with a T-tail arrangement with a single electric motor mounted in the tailfin (

vertical stabilizer A vertical stabilizer or tail fin is the static part of the vertical tail of an aircraft. The term is commonly applied to the assembly of both this fixed surface and one or more movable rudders hinged to it. Their role is to provide control, sta ...

) driving a forward mounted

propeller A propeller (colloquially often called a screw if on a ship or an airscrew if on an aircraft) is a device with a rotating hub and radiating blades that are set at a pitch to form a helical spiral which, when rotated, exerts linear thrust upon ...

. The first all-solar power generated flight was performed near

Milan, Italy Milan ( , , Lombard language, Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the List of cities in Italy, second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 ...

with company owners Eric Scott Raymond and Irena Raymond. 1510 solar cells capable of generating up to 5 kilowatts power the motor and battery pack.

Development

Specifications (Sunseeker Duo)

See also

Notes

References

External links