oy.
Why don't they put a freaking windmill on it? And a spotted f(cking owl sanctuary, too.
Sorry...no night travel available...
25mph? A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
While they admit it was “just to prove they could”, what a terrific waste of time and money. Once again doing the inane for the purposes of inanity.
Soon the panels will be thinner and lighter. If they can make lightweight batteries, this will permit a ISR UV capable of missions that last MONTHS —maybe years.
For COIN ops this would be a big deal.
72’ long and 16’ wide is enormous?
If it can go across the English Channel, why can’t it just keep going as long as it has sunlight?
US forces are MUCH more dependent on GPS than we (or even they) suspect.
The first step the PRC will take in ANY conflict with US forces will be to interrupt GPS services —a very crude way of interrupting such service would be detonation of nuclear devices in space, although that would be unpopular. Other ways exist.
Such craft could serve as a pop-up, backup system.
There are also plans to have each US nuke sub feature one or two tubes given over to ferret sats that would go into orbit and take over if the primaries were eliminated.
(/rimshot)
Single passenger/pilot - no means of 'landing' without props hitting the ground - no windshield - no heater - probably no parachute.
Great - hope someone sees you trying to land, and grabs a tether line and hauls you to safety... so it has little future in my estimation.
Voice Over: There is an epic quality about the sea which has throughout history stirred the hearts and minds of Englishmen of all nations. Sir Francis Drake, Captain Webb, Nelson of Trafalgar and Scott of the Antartic - all rose to the challenge of the mighty ocean. And today another Englishman may add his name to the golden roll of history: Mr Ron Obvious of Neaps End. For today, Ron Obvious hopes to be the first man to jump the Channel·
(Ron runs up to group of cheering supporters. An interviewer addresses him.)
Interviewer: Ron, now let’s just get this quite clear - you’re intending to jump across the English Channel?
Ron: Oh yes, that is correct, yes.
Interviewer: And, er, just how far is that?
Ron: Oh, well it’s twenty-six miles from here to Calais.
Interviewer: Er, that’s to the beach at Calais?
Ron: Well, no, no, provided I get a good lift off and maybe a gust of breeze over the French coast, I shall be jumping into the centre of Calais itself.
(Brief shot of group of Frenchmen with banner.’ ‘Fin de Cross-Channel jump ‘.)
Interviewer: Ron are you using any special techniques to jump this great distance?
Ron: Oh no, no. I shall be using an ordinary two-footed jump, er, straight up in the air and across the Channel.
Interviewer: I see. Er, Ron, what is the furthest distance that you’ve jumped, er, so far?
Ron: Er, oh, eleven foot six inches at Motspur Park on July 22nd. Er, but I have done nearly twelve feet unofficially.
(Ron breaks off to make training-type movements.)
Interviewer: I see. Er, Ron, Ron, Ron, aren’t you worried Ron, aren’t you worried jumping twenty-six miles across the sea?
Ron: Oh, well no, no, no, no. It is in fact easier to jump over sea than over dry land.
Interviewer: Well how is that?
Ron: Er, well my manager explained it to me. You see if you’re five miles out over the English Channel, with nothing but sea underneath you, er, there is a very great impetus to say in the air.
Interviewer: I see. Well, er, thank you very much Ron and the very best of luck.
Ron: Thank you. Thank you.