In a video posted last August, Martin Šulko Šulek, a Slovak XC pilot, shares his solar installation: an UltraBip, a smartphone with SeeYou Navigator and a power source for it during the flight.

You’re no doubt familiar with the routine: taking your electronic devices out of the harness, plugging them in to charge, and setting everything up again before taking off. The aim is to have your cockpit ready for the next flight. His solution: combining a solar-powered GPS variometer with a smartphone powered by a foldable solar panel via a power bank.

In sunlight, the UltraBip charges even when switched off. By transmitting its position to the flight app, it also allows you to switch off your smartphone’s GPS to save battery life. Martin chose theUltraBip for its solar capabilities; he also appreciates its voice announcements of altitude, speed and climbrate in thermals.

To power his smartphone, Martin attached a sturdy, foldable solar panel to his harness, connected to a power bank chosen specifically for one specific quality: it charges via the solar panel whilst simultaneously charging the smartphone, both at the same time. This isn’t the case with all power banks, and that’s the key feature of his setup.

A review of the season

60 to 70 hours of flight time per season, and an external battery that only needs recharging at home once or twice. That’s enough to make you rethink your post-flight routine!

In the meantime, the solar panel is in operation every time you take off, including pre-flight checks and packing up after landing. For those who fly more frequently, or go on vol-bivouac, he recommends a solar panel with one or two additional flaps.