Solar Plane altitude challange

[Cryptic Phant0m]

Here is my entree and its my first try at a solar plane. I did not get above 300m and I crashed after 1:32 in the air.

[Sandermatt]

Ok, I made a plane without control surfaces at all, so that all infiniglide effects are for sure out. If there is anything causing infiniglide left please tall me. The thing at the wing is a standard cannard, so there should not be any infiniglide effects be associated with it.

So it seems to be possible to do it without control surfaces, and therefore this will now become a criteria. This allows to rule out the infiniglide effects and really compare all designs.

@cryptic phantom: You might already have done it without control surfaces (looks so on the picture). Did you use any control surfaces?

Start:

Thanks to esd for the idea with the small wheels, I had given up on them. And thanks to FlashcrySamurai for the idea about angling the ion engines.

Takeoff:

Height 1343m. I would have gotten higher but I will make a better design first:

When energy became sparse I realised that pushing the buttons S and W had effects on my energy balance, the wheels motors were turned uf, does anybody know thy this happened?

Edit: Problem solved. I assume turned the plane up and down using the power from the command pod getting better or worse angles to the sun, therefore chaning the enregy balance.

Edited May 5, 2013 by Sandermatt

[Sandermatt]

Ok, I have optimised the design of my last attempt.

Start (different direction to maximise time under sunlight):

Takeoff:

Barely getting enough height for the mountains:

Out of fuel:

Edited May 5, 2013 by Sandermatt

[numerobis]

A canard is a control surface...

But you can do tricks just with wings. You can't escape the physics of it in the stock aerodynamic system.

[Sandermatt]

A canard is a control surface...

But you can do tricks just with wings. You can't escape the physics of it in the stock aerodynamic system.

Ok, I thought because you cannot "control" anything (no steering capability, no moving parts) it wouldn't be. How is control surface defined then? It is not a winglet.

Would F.A.R be the solution to all these problems?

I managed to get the plane of ground without the canard, but angling larger wings does not give the finetuning to keep the plane stable.

Edited May 5, 2013 by Sandermatt

[Sandermatt]

Ok, I can balance a plane even without canards, but can anybody confirm that canards (not winglets) cause infiniglide?

@numerobis, are these things with plain wings significant effects, can you give examples?