No thread on the Solar Impulse yet! Gotta change that!
Quite an impressive first step!
This might actually belong in “military”, since the armed forces will sure be the first to utilize a ultra-long endurance 24/7 aircraft with a decent payload. But there are civilian applications as well, like e.g. environmental monitoring, or para-military one like patrolling the EEZ. Also ad-hoc networks, but there airships might be better suited.
An aircraft like the Solar Impulse, once it’s capable of carrying a real “payload”, and I mean one that fits into a business model, will have to find its niche in being faster than airships and lower than satellites. Just my estimate.
And of course the operational limits, better the geographical and seasonal limits, are clear: No sun – no flight. Whereby the ability to fly in darkness will expand with better batteries. Better as in more efficient, lighter, faster charging, &c. Same for the solar cells. Weight and efficiency.
By: l.garey - 22nd September 2010 at 06:27
This one shows the tail better.
Laurence
By: James D - 21st September 2010 at 23:05
With that odd double tail it looks like someone got something wrong.
It´s cross shaped actually.
By: Arabella-Cox - 21st September 2010 at 21:59
With that odd double tail it looks like someone got something wrong.
If they are going to fly it any distance I only hope it flies faster than the solar powered aircraft I’ve had the honor to pilot.
By: WG-13 - 21st September 2010 at 19:58
Wonder how long before it appears at something like flying legends?
Won’t that rather depend on the weather?:diablo:
By: inkworm - 21st September 2010 at 18:23
Wonder how long before it appears at something like flying legends?
By: l.garey - 21st September 2010 at 17:55
Low. About 1000 feet.
Laurence
By: Moggy C - 21st September 2010 at 17:31
How high was it?
Moggy
By: l.garey - 21st September 2010 at 15:22
Thanks for those comments folks! It has just flown back overhead going the other way! So that will be 9 hours fuel free flying in one day, but not carrying 120 SLF. It is a fantastic sight though!
Laurence
By: Sky High - 21st September 2010 at 15:13
Or even “Futuristic”. It is an interesting aircraft, and we will, no doubt, look back on it as the “Flying Bedstead” of its day.
By: PeterVerney - 21st September 2010 at 15:12
And thanks from me also.
This is a fascinating project and I can well see Mr O’Leary, of Ryanair fame, salivating at the thought of flying his pax about for no fuel cost
By: Moggy C - 21st September 2010 at 15:06
On the basis that it ain’t Modern Military, It certainly isn’t Commercial, you’d be pushing it to describe it as General Aviation and it’s hardly an airshow picture, this looks like it has a home here. Perhaps a ‘Future Historic’
Thanks for posting it.
Moggy
Moderator
Sign In
July 9, 2010 at 2:08 pm