biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...
ultralight
Ultralight aviation (called microlight aviation in some countries) is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional three-axis control aircraft with aile ...
electric aircraft
An electric aircraft is an aircraft powered by electricity.
Electric aircraft are seen as a way to reduce the environmental effects of aviation, providing zero emissions and quieter flights.
Electricity may be supplied by a variety of method ...
that was the first crewed aircraft to fly on solar power. It was also only the second solar-powered aircraft to fly, after the uncrewed
AstroFlight Sunrise
The AstroFlight Sunrise was an uncrewed experimental electric aircraft technology demonstrator and the first aircraft to fly on solar power.
First conceived in November 1970, the Sunrise first flew on 4 November 1974 from Bicycle Lake, a dry l ...
UFM Easy Riser
The UFM Easy Riser is an American swept wing biplane hang glider that was first powered in 1975, becoming the first modern ultralight aircraft. The Easy Riser was still in production as an unpowered glider in 2002 by Ultralight Flying Machine ...
hang glider to solar power. Normally foot-launched, the Solar Riser had wheeled landing gear added. Power is supplied by a
Bosch
Bosch may refer to:
People
* Bosch (surname)
* Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450 – 1516), painter
* Van den Bosch, a Dutch toponymic surname
* Carl Bosch, a German chemical engineer and nephew of Robert Bosch
* Robert Bosch, founder of Robert Bosch Gm ...
electric starter motor of connected to a 30 volt DC Nickel-cadmium battery pack taken from a Hughes 500 helicopter, powering a propeller through a reduction drive made from a timing belt and two pulleys. The battery was charged by a series of
photovoltaic solar panel
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 physics, physical and Chemical substance, chemical phenomenon.
Because the battery power was enough to launch the aircraft for a soaring flight it was theoretically possible to launch on battery power, soar while the batteries are being charged by sunlight and then continue powered flight. The Solar Riser did not employ the most efficient cells available at the time and the upper wing had room for twice the number of cells to be installed. Early plans called for upgrading and increasing the number of cells so that sustained electric flight could be made using only solar energy and not battery power, but these plans were never completed.
Operational history
With Larry Mauro as the pilot, the Solar Riser made the first man-carrying flight on solar power at noon on 29 April 1979 at Flabob Airport at
Rubidoux, California
Rubidoux ( ) was a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Riverside County, California, until July 1, 2011, when it became a neighborhood of the newly formed city of Jurupa Valley. The city is located within Southern California's ...
, near Riverside. The aircraft reached a maximum height of about and flew . A number of other flights of similar height and duration were flown, including demonstration flights at
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (formerly the EAA Annual Convention and Fly-In), or just Oshkosh, is an annual air show and gathering of aviation enthusiasts held each summer at Wittman Regional Airport and adjacent Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh, Wiscons ...
before the aircraft was retired to a museum.Glider Rider, June 1979 page 31 by Michael Jones
Aircraft on display
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EAA AirVenture Museum
The EAA Aviation Museum, formerly the EAA AirVenture Museum (or Air Adventure Museum), is a museum dedicated to the preservation and display of historic and experimental aircraft as well as antiques, classics, and warbirds. The museum is ...