A glimpse of the future?

[ozzy72]

The future coming to our door?
http://beta.uk.news.yahoo.com/solar-pla ... 31552.html

[Steve M]

It's not going to be much of a hit at airshows. 43 mph and almost no noise. Still it's pretty cool. 

[Strategic Retreat]

44 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.

[ozzy72]

Strategic 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

[BigTruck]

Your link died Ozzy.  Here's an updated link with video. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13392408

[BigTruck]

In 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.

[ozzy72]

Thanks for the updated link there Truck

[machineman9]

It'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.

[ozzy72]

Err, for this flight you'd have needed an instruments ticket as it was done at night...