Jabiru7252 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Check out this website, to follow the solar powered aircraft. The server is often not available - could be getting too many connection requests. http://www.solarimpulse.com/widget-rtw_wrapup 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farri Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Great, but is solar a realistic alternative for aircraft? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA. Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Great, but is solar a realistic alternative for aircraft? Greater range than an extension lead would give you. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Tuncks Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 If they can stay up indefinitely then unmanned ones which can stay at say 60,000 ft may be cheaper than satellites for some things. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JG3 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Great, but is solar a realistic alternative for aircraft? The Wright Flyer wasn't a realistic product at the time of it's first flight..... Standby to watch developments.... 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winsor68 Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 ... this machine cruises at an Ultralightly 30ish knots apparently... bloody amazing IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexrbetter Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 I heard it's had a lot of forced landings at night ...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 All these things are clever and interesting, but it's hard to envisage a level of energy concentration being available to lift a practical payload. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj_richo Posted March 11, 2015 Share Posted March 11, 2015 Who cares if its impractical at this stage, the same things were said about early space flight... Can we quantify the flow on effects of technology advancements out of the NASA space programs of the 60's and 70's? What an absolute marvel of technology and engineering 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWF Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I heard it's had a lot of forced landings at night ...... Maybe it is one of those day VFR only recreational aircraft. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Run it on moonshine. Al, the space programme didn't have a limit on the power it used. Sunlight has only so many watts per given area dependent on how far you are from the sun, and the angle you present to it.. Efficiency has only about a factor of 4 to go to 100%. OF course it is a wonderful creation as was the Gossamer Albatross which similarly was power limited by choice to ONE person pedalling Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWF Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 With the advances in solar cell technologly we may soon see aircraft such as this running on sun power - and it is aiming directly at our little corner of aviation! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 There is a limit to solar. (as distinct from storage) You can get 100% in theory (maximum) with possible improvements ( and we have about 20% available now). You can concentrate it on the ground but not when the target is moving. The concentrated heat energy is dangerous (as it is when you use a magnifying glass). The Chinese have had electric powered aircraft for at least 3 years. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgmwa Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I wonder why its maximum bank angle is only 5 degrees? Tight circuits would be challenging. rgmwa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnm Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I believe this plane has 2 pilots so each pilot would be looking at the other ...................... seeing them as a 'payload' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyflyer Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Last night landing just before midnight. Batteries charged during the day sustain flight overnight. There are two pilots but only one on board at a time. It will need to stay aloft for several days when flying over the Pacific. Don't be too negative boys, just think how quickly technology has advanced in things like mobile phones and computers. I expect electric aircraft will be a real viable alternative in five or ten years. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexrbetter Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Don't be too negative boys, You punner you. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdseye Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I believe this plane has 2 pilots so each pilot would be looking at the other ...................... seeing them as a 'payload' Two pilots, but only one at a time. The other stays on the ground. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdseye Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 You punner you. I'm finding the whole thing quite electrifying. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winsor68 Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Yep....its sparked my interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozbear Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 Run it on moonshine.Al, the space programme didn't have a limit on the power it used. Sunlight has only so many watts per given area dependent on how far you are from the sun, and the angle you present to it.. Efficiency has only about a factor of 4 to go to 100%. OF course it is a wonderful creation as was the Gossamer Albatross which similarly was power limited by choice to ONE person pedalling Nev Hi Nev I think the answer to making it practical is battery storage technology as that improves things will change look at model aircraft now they used to be all glo or diesel now it's electric . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I agree how far the storage of electricity has advanced. My comment though was specifically about the limitations of Solar by itself. Its a fixed level of energy ( without ,magnification). On the ground that's not so important, because with current technology a small part of the Sahara would power all of Europe, but for vehicles you need much more concentrated energy and it has to be portable. Nev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chird65 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 ..., because with current technology a small part of the Sahara would power all of Europe, but for vehicles you need much more concentrated energy and it has to be portable. Nev With Electricity it is always "Current" technology. ;-) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVOCET Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Whatever charges ya battery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexrbetter Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Whatever charges ya battery Watt? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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