Use of solar cells for inflight recharging

Does anyone have any recommendations on the appropriate
solar cell technology for in flight recharging of sealed
lead acid batteries? Ie Eg what's the recommended
regulator technology - is it normal to shunt the solar
cells when the battery voltage rises at full charge
to prevent overcharging? This seems a little strange
to me (ie you allow the solar cells to discharge at
high current through a shunt thereby dissapating the
full wattage of the solar cells rather than increasing
the series impedance in the charging line).

Any recommended manufacturers
of regulator/shunt units? Any recomended panel suppliers?