{"id":8442,"date":"2013-11-15T12:33:30","date_gmt":"2013-11-15T19:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=8442"},"modified":"2013-11-15T12:33:30","modified_gmt":"2013-11-15T19:33:30","slug":"solar-ships-a-different-kind-of-stol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/solar-ships-a-different-kind-of-stol\/","title":{"rendered":"Solar Ships \u2013 A Different Kind of STOL"},"content":{"rendered":"

A good many good ideas for aircraft seem to come from good ideas for serving mankind \u2013 with many aircraft and performance-enhancing features coming from the humanitarian or missionary world.<\/p>\n

A particular need for jungle aviation, or bush flying anywhere, is the capability to make short takeoffs and landing s (STOL).\u00a0 Jungles and mountain passes often present limited options for setting down, and being able to clear trees and pinnacles can be a life-saving necessity.<\/p>\n

Solar Ship <\/a>advertises itself as an ultimate means of penetrating the wilderness.\u00a0 \u201cNo roads.\u00a0 No fuel.\u00a0 No infrastructure\u201d sounds like a pipe dream, but seems to be heading toward practical reality, with test flights continuing on at least two prototypes.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=awAAmwpdV70<\/p>\n

Jay Godsall, CEO and co-founder of Solar Ship, Inc. has a cutting-edge medical background, having started and run an infectious disease barcoding firm, Fio.\u00a0 Dr. Sebastien Fournier, Chief Innovation Officer was CTO for Fio, helping develop and patent the world\u2019s first method of bar-coding pathogens to be used in handheld diagnostic devices for infectious disease in remote areas.\u00a0\u00a0 Chief Operating Officer (COO), Michel Rugema, has managed USAID operations in Africa and Haiti \u2013 as well as five-star restaurants in New York, widely (and wildly) divergent worlds and fields. Chief Technical Officer John Hutchinson has 30 years\u2019 experience manufacturing and maintaining aircraft for remote area markets and is a pioneer in the remote area power systems development.\u00a0 A triple-threat man, he holds an engineering degree, an MBA and a Law Degree from the University of Cape Town.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A Solar Ship crossing a vast, sun-filled expanse – ideal for its capabilities<\/p><\/div>\n

Their unique backgrounds have come together to produce a unique aircraft, part airplane, part airship.\u00a0 The helium filled wings will doubtless help with short-field operations, but also add the problem of managing supplies of this gas in remote regions and possibly raising the costs of operation.<\/p>\n

Otherwise, the aircraft, which in prototype form has a Zenair fuselage lengthened to fit the wide-chord wing, a conventional, probably Rotax engine in the nose and two \u201coutrigger\u201d type two-stroke engines driving \u201cpusher\u201d propellers.\u00a0 Another prototype under construction seems to have two Roman Susnik motors with a large battery pack.<\/p>\n

\"Small<\/a>

Small Solar Ship prototype may eventually sport electric motors, thin-film solar cells<\/p><\/div>\n

Ultimate plans would incorporate flexible solar cells on the broad wing surface feeding those batteries and allowing the airplane to enjoy nearly unlimited range compared to other electric aircraft.\u00a0 Optional hybrid systems could enable up to unlimited range in their largest conveyance.<\/p>\n

Solar Ships would come at three levels, all named for wild creatures.\u00a0 Smallest, the Caracal, named for a fleet African wild cat, would carry 200 to 1,000 kilograms (440 to 2,200 pounds), and be dedicated to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance tasks (ISR), although its payload would certainly allow other missions.<\/p>\n

Mid-range, the Chui (choo-ee), Swahili for Leopard, would lift 3,000 to 15,000 kilograms (6,600 to 33,000 pounds) and be suited for ISR and cargo.\u00a0 Largest, the Nanuk (Polar Bear) could manage a massive payload of 20,000 to 100,000 kilograms (44,000 to 220,000 pounds) \u2013 equal to those for medium to large cargo jets, but navigating at much lower speeds.\u00a0 The smallest Solar Ship, for instance, travels at 70 kilometers per hour (43.4 mph) and the largest at 120 kph (74.4 mph).<\/p>\n

With their long ranges 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) for the Caracal, 3,000 kilometers (1,860 miles) for the Chui, and unlimited distances for the Nanuk, pilots will have to tolerate ultralight aircraft speeds for extended periods.<\/p>\n

An affiliated group, the Solar Ship Foundation,<\/a> \u201cwas created to provide sustainable transport and critical cargo to remote areas that are cut off from the benefits of the global community.\u201d\u00a0 Their two projects are dedicated to medicine and the environment. The Mazava Project\u2019s goal \u201cis to develop a series of Solar Ship aircraft able to provide isolated people with aviation transport of medical supplies and medical services.\u201d\u00a0 The Savoka Project\u2019s goal \u201cis to develop a series of Solar Ship aircraft able to provide aviation services to people living in and around unique ecosystems supporting species-at-risk and cultures-at-risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond those ambitions, Solar Ships\u2019 high payload levels, great ranges and ability to set down in 40 to 200 meters (128 to 640 feet) would be welcome in supplying disaster zones like those in the Philippines right now.\u00a0 Their creative design and demonstrated slow flight abilities would recommend them as heavy-duty bush aircraft \u2013 well-suited for remote areas.<\/p>\n