Is It Possible to Design a Solar-Powered Helicopter?

[jgeating]

Airplanes have a lot more surface area than helicopters. Apachee, try to think about where you would even put solar panels on a helicopter: by their very nature, they don't have a lot of horizontal surfaces except for the rotor.

If there is still time, you may want to consider looking for a different project.

more about weight than it's about surface area

 

[JaredJames]

more about weight than it's about surface area

The more surface area the more room for panels. You can have the lightest aircraft going, but it's the surface area available for panels that matters.

Sorry, it can be done and it will (with current panels) - a properly designed one. Just wait and you'll see.

You're joking right?

'Current panels' installed locally provide 2.6kW on a perfect day and take up 8m² weighing ~500kg.

Good luck getting a helicopter to work with those 'current panels'.

Utilising ground effect can hardly be considered a helicopter.