On Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 10:47:09 AM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
Lots of gliders come from the factory with solar panels already attached
to their backs, including my Stemme. Why haven't the tail booms fallen
off yet?

On 11/30/2016 6:47 PM, Andrzej Kobus wrote:
On Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 8:34:25 PM UTC-5, Soartech wrote:
There is a huge difference in tempertures between an RV roof and a sailplane tailboom. I have had a solar panel glued on my tail boom for 2 years and it is showing no signs of melting or discoloration of the glass beneath it. Oh, and I NEVER have to remove my battery and charge it!

I would not do this. The temperature that will be generated under the panel is going to be very high, potentially weakening the structure. Those who glued flexible panels on top of their RVs know what I am talking about.. I have seen melted flexible panels.
The high temp is not the result of a structure under the panel but the fact that the panel itself gets very hot in the sun transferring the heat to the structure below.

--
Dan, 5J

The heat transfer properties of the panel play a role here. How much is reflected back vs. absorbed and transferred to the structure below. The type of the panel matters. Cooling while flying is great but if you have a glider out in Nevada sun all day it might be too much. Glider manufacturers know what they are doing. Buying some panel and putting it on a glider without discussing with the manufacturer might not be a great idea.