Experimental Fuel-Cell Airplane Begins NASA Test

gilgsn writes "Planenews.com has a NASA press release from their Dryden Flight Research Center about the first large fuel-cell powered airplane to fly. The Helios prototype took-off Saturday at 8:43AM from the Hawaiian island of Kauai, using solar panels to power its 10 electric motors for takeoff and during daylight portions of its 20-hour shakedown flight. As sunlight diminishes, Helios switched to a fuel cell system to continue flight into the night. I wonder how long it will be before fuel cells are used on homebuilt experimentals."

Comments

Re:So what?

[The Creator]

Yes, well, cost per kg of a satellite is atleast $4600/kg

Too easy. :)

$4600/kg or ~$10,000/lb

See, we keep telling you the metric system has benefits. :)