Astonishing ultra lightweight Swiss made airplane ...

wow!

A Solar-Powered Plane Travels Light | WSJ. Magazine May 2013 - WSJ.com

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

We, Lockheed Martin, that is, have a solar powered high altitude drone that can stay aloft for over 5 years. It is designed to be used as a low-level comsat for troops in the field.

Solar powered planes are very cool - as long as they are above all weather.

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

So if they're above the weather is there enough air for them to function?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I think they cruise at 70-80000 feet. Hence the large wing area - sort of like a solar powered U-2.

They go round in circles so the troops know where they can bounce the radio signals.

We also have solar powered Semi-dirigibles doing the same thing.

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

I dont think Virgin Atlantic will be running out to order a fleet of them any time soon.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

My son told me today that a fellow has a solar powered plane capable of carrying a human and is flying it from coast to coast but not non stop.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

With no human as a passenger and enough altitutude it is possible currently. There is no way to carry the weight of oxygen in bottles to support a human and no heat would be a fatal issue.

At lower elevations where a human could survive far too risky as the plane would be ripped apart. Perhaps in the future canot be ruled out if there is a major breakthrough in solar cells. Airspeed may still remain a problem though for human flight.

That must be why we don't have a five hundred million dollar green air force one. Or was the developer/builder a republican and not willing to make any campaign donations before getting the 500 mil.

If the government is involved with development of such an aircraft, don't bother letting me know, I won't be volunteering to ride in it.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Tom, USUALLY when there are clouds, as long as they are not thunder heads, the tops are not all that high. USUALLY low enough for easy breathing and existence without oxygen or a pressurized cabin.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Thanks Larry!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tell that one to all the Apollo astronauts.

As for solar flight, I'm big on solar applications but this one sorta proves my point on the notion of being able to replace fossil fuels with solar: won't work on a one to one substitution basis - no way, no how.

Solar cars and solar airplanes are very unlikely to ever be anything other than fragile, low payload curiosities, except for the unmanned high altitude drones anyway.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

The Apollo program was a different time, done by a different kind of beauracracy.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Ah, of course.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Yahoo news is broadcasting the flight of a solar powered plane. It is due to take off at 8:00am central time today. sounds like mostly French and German being spoken in the background from what I can tell.