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Air-Plane
Solar-Powered Aircraft Developments
Air-Plane Co., Ltd
Frederick To (b. Hong Kong in 1938), formed Solar-Powered
Aircraft Developments in London in 1977 and started building the U.K.'s first solar powered aircraft, Solar One,
with the help and advice of David Williams. The first flight attempt took place at Lasham Airfield, Hampshire, on 19 December
1978. The propeller pitch was incorrectly set and the attempt achieved only a short hop. At the hands of pilot Ken Stewart,
a successful flight took place on 13 June 1979.
By the middle of 1978 Fred To was making structural tests on the
use of polyester film structures for an inflatable wing and the Air-plane Co Ltd was formed in 1978 to develop
the Phoenix, building on the work of the late Dan Perkins.
Project Data 
Project No |
Type
No | Name | Alternative Name(s) | Year |
Spec
(Requirement) | Status | Qty | Description |
References |
| |
| Solar One | |
1978 |
| Proto | 1 |
1S solar powered aircraft | 1,4 |
| |
| Phoenix | | 1981 | |
Proto |
1 |
1S man powered | 2,3 |
Total Air-Plane Production
2
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