CURRENT STATE AND PROSPECTS OF PLANES ON SOLAR ENERGY IN UKRAINE

Abstract

Purpose. The aim is to determine the main challenges for the creation of aircraft on solar energy, assess the feasibility of establishing and operating an aircraft on solar energy in Ukraine. Design/methodology/approach. Creating an airplane on solar energy multicriterion task parameters and the optimal choice ultimately depends on the effective solution of these problems: the existence of the condition of the aircraft on solar energy (energy balance conditions); efficient use of solar energy, meet operational requirements, the conditions of strength and rigidity of the structure. Directly in the development of aircraft Ukraine on solar energy is at an early stage. Intensive development of unmanned aircraft began in us only in recent years and caused sharp need for air surveillance. Despite the fact that a lot of organizations undertook to develop unmanned aircraft systems, including solar energy, currently the results of their work are only experimental devices or small-lot production samples. Findings. In Ukraine there are conditions for efficient operation of solar cells, and there is a real need for airplanes on solar energy. The time of flight on solar energy depends on the efficiency of solar cells. To implement this type of aircraft is important to use modern materials and technologies.