Flying cars run on solar power become a reality

[Happy Face 29]

An experimental aircraft that draws its power from the sun is making a round-the-clock test flight.

 

The aim is to assess whether the plane can fly in darkness, using solar cells on its wings to generate enough power to stay in the air for 24 hours.

 

The HB-SIA plane, which took off from Switzerland, has the weight of a family car but the wingspan of a big airliner.

 

The test flight was initially due to take place last week but was postponed because of a technical problem.

 

"For seven years now, the whole team has been passionately working to achieve this first decisive step of the project," said pilot Andre Borschberg as he entered the cockpit at an airfield in Payerne, in the west of Switzerland.

 

He is to take the aircraft to an altitude of 27,900ft (8,500m) by late Wednesday, when the sun's rays stop being strong enough to supply the solar cells with energy.

 

The prototype will then start a slow descent using energy stored in its batteries until sunrise.

 

"The big question is whether the pilot can make efficient use of the battery energy to fly throughout the night," the team said in a statement.

 

"If this mission is successful, it will be the longest and highest flight ever made by a solar plane."

 

'Solar future'

 

The plane, which has 12,000 solar cells, is the latest step in the Solar Impulse project, which Mr Borschberg leads with his business partner and fellow adventurer, Bertrand Piccard.

 

Mr Borschberg (L) and Mr Piccard have worked on the project for seven years Mr Piccard made the first non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in a balloon in 1999.

 

The pair want to prove that solar power has a practical future in aviation and, more generally, in powering society at large.

 

The plane incorporates composite materials to keep it extremely light, and uses super-efficient solar cells, batteries, motors and propellers to keep itself in the sky.

 

The vehicle was unveiled last year and has since been undergoing daylight trials. The first full-day flight was completed on 7 April.

 

The HB-SIA will be succeeded by HB-SIB. It is likely to be bigger, and will incorporate a pressurised capsule and better avionics.

 

The group plans to use this vehicle in two years' time to make the first manned transatlantic solar flight, followed in 2013 by an even more daring circumnavigation of the Earth.

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_env...nt/10534960.stm

 

In tomorrows world we'll all fly to the supermarket and won't need petrol to do it.

 

Just need bigger car parks.

[Tom 14011]

Mr Borschberg (L) and Mr Piccard have worked on the project for seven years Mr Piccard made the first non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in a balloon in 1999.

 

Cheating surely?

[NJS 4355]

No mention of intended passenger capacity or speed.

[Ayatollah Hermione 13762]

what if it's overcast?

[Happy Face 29]

An experimental solar-powered aircraft launched on Wednesday has landed safely in Switzerland after successfully flying through the night.

 

The feat is a step toward the makers' aim of circling the globe using the power of the Sun to fuel the plane.

 

The aircraft used super-efficient solar cells and batteries to stay in the air after the Sun's rays had faded.

 

The plane touched down at an airfield about 30 miles (50 km) from the Swiss capital Bern at 0900 (0700 GMT).

 

The plane landed at Payerne airport after a total flight time of 26 hours.

 

During the flight it reached a height of 8,700 m (28,543 ft).

 

It is the longest and highest flight recorded by a solar-powered plane.

 

The four-engine aircraft was steered by Andre Borschberg, a former fighter jet pilot from Switzerland.

 

The plane has 12,000 solar cells arranged on its wingspan which collected enough energy to power the plane for the flight.

 

'Perpetual flight'

 

The designers, the Solar Impulse team led by Mr Borschberg and fellow aviator Bertrand Piccard, say that this proves that a plane can be kept in the air around the clock.

 

"It's the first time ever that a solar airplane has flown through the night," Mr Piccard told journalists.

 

"That was the moment that proved the mission was successful, we made it."

 

The plane emerged from the darkness of night with three hours power remaining in its batteries, more than had been expected.

 

"Nothing can prevent us from another day and night, and the myth of perpetual flight."

 

The team will now build a new, more advanced, model of the plane.

 

They aim to circumnavigate the globe by 2013.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/10550430.stm

 

If we're going to make it to mars and mine it's precious materials, this is what we need

[Rob W 0]

works Ok at night but a 60m wingspan means some bloody big car parks