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A Solar Race Around the World

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the alvin-and-the-chipmunks-did-this dept.

garzpacho writes "In Switzerland, two teams are vying to be the first to circle the globe in a solar powered vehicle--one team in a boat, the other in an airplane. The boat, a two person trimaran, is the brainchild of PlanetSolar, who hopes to circumnavigate the world In 80 days. Solar Impulse is fielding the single-pilot plane, which will be capable of taking off under its own power and flying all night. Both groups hope to bring greater attention to solar power, which they believe is more appropriate for alternative transportation than for automobiles."

2 of 139 comments (clear)

  1. links in engilsh by mikesd81 · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you want the links in english instead of having to click on the little EN..

    http://www.solar-impulse.com/scripts/page7655.html

    http://www.planetsolar.org/planetsolar.en.shtml

    --
    That which does not kill me only postpones the inevitable.
  2. Re:Why fly at night? by CosmeticLobotamy · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you left in the morning and landed at night, you'd only need around 400-ish mph (1000 gets you constant time, 500 gets you 12 hours behind, assume a couple more than that of daylight). But still, that's a hell of a solar plane. The article might say if it can do that, but reading is hard and I don't wanna.