Mauro Solar Riser

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title: "Mauro Solar Riser" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1970s-united-states-experimental-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1979", "solar-powered-aircraft", "photovoltaics", "biplanes", "tailless-aircraft", "single-engined-pusher-aircraft"] description: "First crewed solar-powered aircraft" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauro_Solar_Riser" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary First crewed solar-powered aircraft ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]

Field	Value
name	Solar Riser
image	Mauro Solar Riser.jpg
aircraft_type	Electric aircraft
national_origin	United States
manufacturer	Ultralight Flying Machines (UFM)
designer	Larry Mauro
status	Sole example in the EAA AirVenture Museum
primary_user	Larry Mauro
number_built	One
construction_date	1979
introduction	1979
retired	1979
first_flight	29 April 1979
::

| name = Solar Riser | logo = | logo_size = | image = Mauro Solar Riser.jpg | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Electric aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = Ultralight Flying Machines (UFM) | design_group = | designer = Larry Mauro | builder = | issuer = | status = Sole example in the EAA AirVenture Museum | owners = | primary_user = Larry Mauro | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = One | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 1979 | introduction = 1979 | retired = 1979 | first_flight = 29 April 1979 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = The Mauro Solar Riser is an American biplane ultralight electric aircraft that was the first crewed aircraft to fly on solar power. It was also only the second solar-powered aircraft to fly, after the uncrewed AstroFlight Sunrise, which had first flown years earlier.

Design and development

The president of Ultralight Flying Machines, Larry Mauro, created the Solar Riser by converting a stock UFM Easy Riser hang glider to solar power. Normally foot-launched, the Solar Riser had wheeled landing gear added. Power is supplied by a Bosch electric starter motor of 3.5 hp connected to a 30-volt DC Nickel-cadmium battery pack taken from a Hughes 500 helicopter, powering a 41 in propeller through a reduction drive made from a timing belt and two pulleys. The battery was charged by a series of photovoltaic solar panels mounted in the top wing that provided 350 watts of power. The solar cells were not sufficient to provide all power in flight, so all flights were made by recharging the battery on the ground from the solar cells and then flying using energy stored in the battery. A charge in bright sunshine for an hour and a half yielded a flight of 3–5 minutes.

Because the battery power was enough to launch the aircraft for a soaring flight it was theoretically possible to launch on battery power, soar while the batteries are being charged by sunlight and then continue powered flight. The Solar Riser did not employ the most efficient cells available at the time, and the upper wing had room for twice the number of cells to be installed. Early plans called for upgrading and increasing the number of cells so that sustained electric flight could be made using only solar energy and not battery power, but these plans were never completed.

Operational history

With Larry Mauro as the pilot, the Solar Riser made the first man-carrying flight on solar power at noon on 29 April 1979 at Flabob Airport at Rubidoux, California, near Riverside. The aircraft reached a maximum height of about 40 ft and flew 0.5 mi. A number of other flights of similar height and duration were flown, including demonstration flights at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh before the aircraft was retired to a museum.

Aircraft on display

• EAA AirVenture Museum - sole example

Specifications (Solar Riser)

|ref=EAA Museum and AstroFlight |prime units?=imp General characteristics

|genhide=

|crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=8 |length in=0 |length note= |span m= |span ft=30 |span in=0 |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=123 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=275 |gross weight note= |more general= Powerplant

|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Bosch starter motor |eng1 type=powered by a 30V DC 15 A-hour Nickel-cadmium battery, charged by a 36V 10A 350W solar array |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=3.5

|prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft=3 |prop dia in=7 |prop note= Performance

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= |max speed mph=20 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=0.5 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance=3-5 minutes |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=40 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance= |avionics=

References

References

1. [[Experimental Aircraft Association]]. (2011). "UFM/MAURO SOLAR RISER".
2. AIAA/SAE/ASME 20th Joint Propulsion Conference. (1984). "AIAA paper 84-1429".
3. "Era of Solar-Powered Airplane Begins With Half-Mile Flight", ''Sacramento (CA) Bee'', April 30, 1979, p. 12
4. Glider Rider, June 1979 page 31 by Michael Jones
5. [[Experimental Aircraft Association]]. (2011). "UFM/MAURO SOLAR RISER – Specifications".

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