Posted on 06/20/2009 4:26:07 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Shenyang, China (AHN) - The world's first plane powered solely by sunlight will fly around the world in 2011 as part of a project to promote the use of sustainable and clean energy, according to a sponsor of the aircraft.
The Solar Impulse will fly for 30 days and land once on each continent, Jean Cai, vice president of Deutsche Bank (China) Co., Ltd., told Xinhuanet.com. The bank is one of the sponsors of a project to develop the plane.
"The solar plane project is aimed at promoting sustainable energy in the world and the potential and future of clean energy and solar energy," said Cai, according to Xinhuanet.com.
The Solar Impulse, a model of which is currently exhibited in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning Province, has 12,000 photovoltaic cells, a 207 feet wingspan, a weight of 3,527 pounds and a travel speed of 43 mph.
Cai said the plane will be shown to the public on June 26 at Dubendorf airfield next to Zurich, Switzerland.
(Yes, I have some Polish blood in me!)
They’re all set to go, just as soon as they find a 14 pound pilot.
How soon will this be part of the Air France fleet?
“They’re all set to go, just as soon as they find a 14 pound pilot.”
What? They’ve run out of malnourished, female Chinese gymnists? ;)
(My cat says she volunteers to pilot the craft. She loves adventure!)
Seeing the concord go down in flames a couple of years ago was not a pretty sight. I always thought it would be fun to fly on one. Too bad.
It better be flown by North Korean pilots because (of weight restrictions) there will be NO FOOD on board.
lol!
Who also never pees...wouldn’t want to blow the CG in flight.
I’m sorry, but it just really bugs me when they call something “the first” when it hasn’t happened yet.
Those aren’t flying any more.
"at 43 mph a hitchhiking seagull could bring it down"
Before anybody laughs at this, consider the applications of a UAV which can stay up indefinitely.
Make it a nonstop flight and I’ll be impressed.
Hey, Joe, were doing alright with this solar plane, huh? Hey, Joe, is that a cloud? Get away from the could Joe, Joe, get away from the cl.....
I bet that my neighbor’s hamster could probably do a better job than your cat.
..and at night they will shine flash light at the photocells, oh, and paint it green, oh and pilot will be Algore Bearmanpig
Even better ... how about a swarm of cellphone towers and wifi spots that just fly into a disaster area??
They can’t go fast enough to keep up with the sun...
hh
Can you imagine the the envelope? A very short, straight line!
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