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Ask Slashdot: What Stands In the Way of a Truly Solar-Powered Airliner?

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-blame-gravity dept.

centre21 writes "I've been reading about solar-powered aircraft all over the Internet, as well as solar power in general. But I'm wondering: is it more than just solar cell efficiency that's preventing the creation of a solar-powered airliner? Conspiracy views aside (which may be valid), it seems to me that if I were running an airline the size of United or American, eliminating the need for jet fuel as a cost would be highly appealing. So, I'm asking: what stands in the way of creating true solar-powered airliners?"

4 of 590 comments (clear)

  1. Also by Flounder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Night?

    --

    No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. - Cmdr. Susan Ivanova

  2. Batteries. by sbrown7792 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The capacity and weight as well as power delivery, for taking off (with clouds above) and night flights.

  3. Physics. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In simple terms, Physics.

  4. Re:Um... by rtfa-troll · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But if you had a solar powered jet engine you could chase the sun. And you would never need to waste energy on landing lights.

    Why stop at that? If you had a solar powered transporter you could just go straight from wherever you are to wherever you want to be in two simple steps. In fact, once we can completely ignore basic laws of energy conservation and so on, why not just use a solar powered magic wand and will yourself to already be wherever you want to be?

    --
    =~ s,(.*),<sarcasm>$1</sarcasm>,g if any_point_you_wish();