Thin film solar panel for RC aircraft

[Monkeyman87]

Just an idea I had. Would thin film solar panels have a small enough weight to power ratio for powering an electric RC model? If they were mounted on the top of the main wing the would be hit directly by sunlight on sunny days. They seem to have a pretty good power output and they are only .1cm thick I my memory is correct. Has anyone ever tried this or wanted to?

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Just an idea I had. Would thin film solar panels have a small enough weight to power ratio for powering an electric RC model? If they were mounted on the top of the main wing the would be hit directly by sunlight on sunny days. They seem to have a pretty good power output and they are only .1cm thick I my memory is correct. Has anyone ever tried this or wanted to?

NASA has, but have you seen the size of the wings!.

Try doing the maths for the amount of power required, and the area of solar panels you would need