A flexible solar array for a spacecraft or aviation craft including a flexible backing substrate with conductive trace(s) formed thereon; solar cell subassemblies disposed over the flexible backing substrate, each of the solar cell subassemblies at least including a solar cell; and an adhesive layer interposed between the solar cell subassemblies and the flexible backing substrate, with the solar cell attached to the flexible backing substrate. The adhesive layer includes openings for exposing the corresponding conductive traces so that the exposed metal traces are adaptable to interconnect the solar cells of the respective adjacent solar cell subassemblies through the openings.