Mauro Solar Riser
Ultralight Flying Machines · United States · first flew 1979 · light aircraft
The Mauro Solar Riser was an American biplane ultralight electric aircraft, the first crewed aircraft to fly on solar power. It was the second solar-powered aircraft to fly, after the uncrewed AstroFlight Sunrise.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × electric, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 2.44 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Ultralight biplane converted from a hang glider, with wheeled landing gear added
- Photovoltaic solar panels mounted in the top wing
- Small propeller of about 1.09 m diameter driven through a belt reduction from an electric motor
A 3.5 hp Bosch starter motor was powered by a nickel-cadmium battery charged by 350 watts of solar panels. The battery was charged on the ground, and an hour and a half in bright sunshine gave a flight of 3 to 5 minutes.
Specifications
- The Mauro Solar Riser has a length of 2.44 m (8 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.14 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 32 km/h (20 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Larry Mauro, president of Ultralight Flying Machines, created it by converting a stock UFM Easy Riser hang glider to solar power. It first flew on 29 April 1979 at Flabob Airport, Rubidoux, California, with Mauro as pilot.
Variants
Only one was built. Early plans to add more solar cells so that sustained flight could be made on solar power alone were never completed.
Where you'll see it
It reached a maximum height of about 40 ft and flew 0.5 mi on its first flight, and made a number of similar flights including demonstrations at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. It was then retired to a museum, and the sole example is in the EAA AirVenture Museum.
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