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World's First Solar-Propelled Blimp To Cross English Channel

Posted by timothy on from the all-I've-got's-this-sunny-afternoon dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Can a blimp propelled entirely by solar power cross the English Channel? We're about to find out! Nephelios, the world's first solar blimp, was built by Projet Sol'r — a collaboration between students at engineering and technical schools in France. Now, almost a year after its debut (and a year after it was supposed to launch), the helium-filled airship is ready for action, with its inaugural flight set to take place next week. The blimp is covered in semi-flexible solar cells that can generate up to 2.4 kilowatts — enough to keep the blimp moving at 25 mph as it crosses la Manche."

4 of 87 comments (clear)

  1. This sounds like a good idea. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Let's fly our sunlight-powered flying machine in the most overcast place on earth!

    1. Re:This sounds like a good idea. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Hey, if it works there....

  2. "We're about to find out!" by skine · · Score: 5, Funny

    "We're about to find out!"

    I think that these are the words that every scientist strives for.

    They don't come out too often, but when they do...

  3. Surely... by Jmanamj · · Score: 5, Funny

    The mammoth airship measures 72 feet long and 18 feet wide and has a nylon and polyethylene aluminum frame.

    Surely, with an airship so large, the earth will be plunged into darkness as it passes overhead!