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Solar-Powered Plane Makes First Successful Flight
lilbridge writes "The Solar Impulse, a solar-powered plane covered in 12,000 solar cells, took its maiden flight today in Switzerland. The plane stayed aloft for 87 minutes, performing test maneuvers as well as completing a successful takeoff and landing. With the first test flight behind them, the developers can focus on gearing up for their around-the-world solar powered flight set for 2012."
They won't come close to matching Earth's rotation, so I don't see a point to dragging out the length of night and thus requiring larger batteries.
"Now we're getting to Science -- I love this!" -- Dr. Steven Chu, Energy Secretary confirmation hearings.
Partly cloudy with a 100% chance of crash.
"an average speed of 70 kph" - "won't come close" is an understatement.
I would think you'd aim to build something that can act as a glider (and the long narrow wings in the picture look like they are) at night. With batteries giving engines when you need them, but not requiring batteries big (and heavy) enough to last the 18 hours or so when the sun is either not visible too low for the solar panels to generate much power.
Either way, you are going to east with the jet streams - that's going to have far more impact than day length variance.
That's the point I think. If it could keep up with Earth's rotation it could be kept under constant sunlight (or, at least, under an extended period of sunlight) roughly like a sun-synchronous orbit.
English is not my first language. Corrections and suggestions are welcome.
Who are these two dozen people, and where exactly are you taking them?
If libertarians are so opposed to effective government, why don't they all move to Somalia?
Are you an idiot?
They aren't claiming first ever solar flight.
They aren't claiming that the solar thing is new and amazing.
They aren't claiming it is impressive in itself.
They are claiming it's a significant milestone on the path to their goal.
As one of the designers of the system, I have just this to say... gosh, we never thought of that. Looking at the designs again in light of your insightful, informed comments it's clear that we're all insane and or incompetent for designing this thing. We should have realized sooner, but I guess we were all to drunk/high to notice.
END SARCASM
This was designed by engineers with experience in the field. They know all about power to weight ratios, wingspans, and surface areas. The fact that you were able to come up with your objections with about 30 seconds of thought should make you realize that the engineers involved probably came up with the same concerns somewhere along the 7 year development cycle. As for it being miserable to fly... of course it is, this isn't a sport plane or even a transport plane, it's a proof of concept at best (and I don't really see how the concept could ever really be made into anything other than a gee whiz toy).
No. It's "Your Wrights Online"
Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.