A glimpse of the future?
Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 1:41 pmThe future coming to our door?
http://beta.uk.news.yahoo.com/solar-pla ... 31552.html
http://beta.uk.news.yahoo.com/solar-pla ... 31552.html
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A glimpse of the future?
https://forums.simviation.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=99730
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2011 1:41 pmRe: A glimpse of the future?
Posted: Mon May 16, 2011 2:12 pmIt's not going to be much of a hit at airshows. 43 mph and almost no noise. Still it's pretty cool.
Re: A glimpse of the future?
Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 5:17 pm44 Miles per hour? Statute miles? This means about 40 knots... I know of KITES that fly faster, and I'm not going into gliders because it'd be a slaughter. 
I cannot but ask myself the wisdom of building a plane that is actually no faster than a ship but plagued with all the inherent difficulties in trying to use solar power to keep yourself detached from the surface... at 40Kias night WILL fall while you're on a not even that large a body of water... no reason to take the oceans as an example, the Mediterranean would more than suffice to do in one of those planes... or a cloud just MAY ruin your day... and then, what do you do? Swimming competition?
Experimenting? Well, all right then start experimenting on obtaining at least 4 times THAT speed before throwing yourself into a long range travel. Do not make people think that adding a propeller powered by pedals you'd be going faster. 
I cannot but ask myself the wisdom of building a plane that is actually no faster than a ship but plagued with all the inherent difficulties in trying to use solar power to keep yourself detached from the surface... at 40Kias night WILL fall while you're on a not even that large a body of water... no reason to take the oceans as an example, the Mediterranean would more than suffice to do in one of those planes... or a cloud just MAY ruin your day... and then, what do you do? Swimming competition?
Experimenting? Well, all right then start experimenting on obtaining at least 4 times THAT speed before throwing yourself into a long range travel. Do not make people think that adding a propeller powered by pedals you'd be going faster.
Re: A glimpse of the future?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:07 amStrategic what is your problem? Why are you always so negative and seemingly wanting to argue with the world?
This is a remarkable achievement, so let me try and give you some perspective, just over 100 years ago the Wright Brothers managed to fly with a speed of 6.8 mph for 120 feet. Look what we can do today!
Please try and be less negative and try and think a little before you post, you'll find you get along with people a lot better
This is a remarkable achievement, so let me try and give you some perspective, just over 100 years ago the Wright Brothers managed to fly with a speed of 6.8 mph for 120 feet. Look what we can do today!
Please try and be less negative and try and think a little before you post, you'll find you get along with people a lot better
Re: A glimpse of the future?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 7:08 pmYour link died Ozzy. Here's an updated link with video.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13392408
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13392408
Re: A glimpse of the future?
Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 7:12 pmIn response to Strategic Retreat, they weren't trying to set a speed record They were able to develop solar cells that would store enough of the energy it received during the day to stay aloft during long periods of no sun light (crawl before you walk...etc)
Eventually we will see faster birds. This was a big break through just keeping it aloft that long with no sunshine.
They were able to develop solar cells that would store enough of the energy it received during the day to stay aloft during long periods of no sun light (crawl before you walk...etc)Eventually we will see faster birds. This was a big break through just keeping it aloft that long with no sunshine.
Re: A glimpse of the future?
Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 5:15 amThanks for the updated link there Truck
Re: A glimpse of the future?
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 6:50 pmIt's perfect for people who only have day-ratings, who live in very sunny areas, and for people who don't fly more than a couple of miles from their home base
It's a great concept, but as per a lot of things, it still has a long way to go before it will be entirely useful.
It's a great concept, but as per a lot of things, it still has a long way to go before it will be entirely useful.
Re: A glimpse of the future?
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 4:50 amErr, for this flight you'd have needed an instruments ticket as it was done at night...