Fuselage Construction Photos

The solar plane's fuselage is constructed of balsa and light-ply. It's about 57" long measured from the firewall. With the spinner, motor and tail assembly, the overall length of the plane is 71"

Bulkhead Formers (1/8" birch ply)

Fuselage Construction on Full-Size Plans

NACA Low-Drag Cooling Air Intake

This low-drag air intake duct admits air into the fuselage creating a positive internal pressure. From there the pressurized air flows rearward in the fuselage to the area of the wing-saddle, where the cool air then enters the roots of each wing-half.

The air then flows inside the wing covering from the center of the wing to each wingtip where it exits. As the air passes over the top- and bottom surfaces of the hot solar cells it extract heat, reducing cell temperatures by 70ºF for cells near the wing's center, and 44ºF for cells at the wingtips. This cooling of the solar cells increases their electrical output by 10%.

The NACA duct and electronics access panel

is secured to the fuselage by a forward tongue

plus four neodymium rare-earth magnet-pairs:

Outrunner Motor & Folding Prop

Fuselage Electronics

Power Switch Panel & Digital Voltmeter

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