Solar-powered Plane Readies for Flight

TechnologySolar-powered Plane Readies for FlightSolar-powered Plane Readies for FlightThe Associated PressSolar-powered flight is a step closer to reality. A group of Swiss adventurers are hard at work on the Solar Impulse, a zero-emission airplane powered entirely by the sun. (May 22)Solar-powered flight is a step closer to reality. Several Swiss adventurers are hard at work on the Solar Impulse, a zero-emission airplane powered entirely by the sun. They promote renewable energies as they push technology to new limits. Testing on the aircraft is being conducted with computer simulations. And pilots are able to maneuver it in a variety of environments - including night flight - a considerable challenge for a plane powered by sunlight. The plane itself is little more than a giant wing - a giant array of solar cells - and a tiny compartment for the pilot. [Notes:SOT Andre Borschberg, pilot]"TODAY WE CAN TRANSPORT ONE PERSON WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND OF COURSE WE HOPE IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE WITH DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES WE CAN TRANSPORT 300 PERSONS USING ONLY RENEWABLE ENERGIES TO PROPEL THE AEROPLANE."But for now, the Solar Impulse has only one seat. It is hoped that it will be ready for its maiden flight later this year, with the first night flight scheduled for 2009. ___ ___, The Associated Press.(****END****)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• techbits
• solar-powered
• plane
• readies
• flight

[ModestMagician]

Water would be rather heavy to lift, seeing how it is not very developed energy source, good for a car maybe, but it needs developement to be implemented in a plane.

[jkaro215]

sucks when the sun goes down

[Sold2356]

no night flies

[XXTHE12THMANXX]

Me thinks this will only end in disaster

[toranamunter]

gee do you think they might have thought of that?

[heberorozco]

lol

[angrygunsmith]

keep dreaming!

[jeff29992001]

if taiwan's largest custom semiconductor chip manufacturer makes good on its word to switch production to solar panels (they have seven billion dollars in cash ready to do anything), then solar panel prices WILL come down a lot in the next several years.

right now they have a $73 billion photovoltaic plant on the drawing board.

nytimes =dot= com /2009/06/13/business/energy-en­vironment/13chip =dot= html

see also

news =dot= enf =dot= cn /en/news/news_11035 =dot= html for news on a $73billion

[ProductTestingClub]

Air ships are OK if the weather is suitable. Little energy to lift and a massive area to put energy cells on.