[Corkey]

Originally Posted by dreadgeek

You're not being a pest at all, brother. Here's the thing (I'm going to try to spare you as much math as I can here) if the solar cells are used to power the propellers and then anything *not* used for that purpose is stored in the batteries that's perfectly legal according to the laws of thermodynamics. If, on the other hand, all of the energy from the solar cells goes to the props and then the turning of the propeller generates its own energy, you're actually getting more energy in. Remember that thrust is work and in *any* system, no matter how efficient you can imagine it being, where work is done some energy is lost.

However, your idea gave me a brainstorm. Imagine a zeppelin where the upper two-thirds was covered in solar panels. Since a lighter than air gas would provide lift, the electric engines would only be needed to provide thrust and internal power. You *still* couldn't get more energy out than you put in, but you would have a relatively cheap means of air travel. It would be slower than jets but I kind of like that idea, actually.

Cheers
Aj

My brain was on overdrive last night thinking about this. If kinetic energy was used to power all of the in flight systems and a small heating system, then it may solve some of the problems. The pilot had to endure night temps of 14*F, what if some of the kinetic energy were to power a small fan heating system? The vents could be open spaces in the wings that permit a flow of air to the pilot, warmed by the power of the spin of the props. It could work to cool the pilot as well by using the ambient air outside as well. And since high altitudes are relatively easier to fly through it wouldn't put too much of a strain on the flight systems, ???