Since the age of eight I have been doing wild and crazy experiments, of which perhaps 0.0002% have worked. Here is one of my projects:
  1. Take conventional battery-powered model airplane.
  2. Tow a sqare meter (or thereabouts) of lightweight but durable photovoltaic material behind the plane.
  3. Connect the strip (or maybe a few broad ribbons) to the rechargeable battery.

Now, if I can get this to work in a model airplane, why not a real one?

In my science fiction novels some planes are electrically powered, while others run on ethanol or refined vegetable oil powering diesel engines and a few jets. Brazil already has quite a number of ethanol fueled small airplanes.

Fed Ex just called ... they want to know how many Super Priority mail packages each of these solar-pumped beauties can carry and also what the max air speed is?
Thanks for the post.

The trick is to get enough area exposed at roughly the correct angle to the sun. I think speed will have to be kept low to keep wear on the sail-like solar panels reasonable.

I have a private pilot's license and am planning to take up soaring after I finish Volume 3 of my science fiction series. In Volume 2, gliders are essential for the heroes to defeat the Forces of Evil.