Solar Impulse: Around the world with zero fuel

[Spiderloser]

Solar Impulse: Around the world with zero fuel 

 

Solar Impulse 2: Solar-Powered Plane Lands in United Arab Emirates, Completing Journey Around the World

 

• Solar Impulse 2 was piloted by Bertrand Piccard on the final part of its epic expedition
• The lightweight aircraft weighs the same as an SUV but has the wingspan of a Boeing 747

 

Quote

(CNN)The first aircraft powered solely by the sun made its landing into history, reaching Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and completing a 25,000 mile, round-the-world journey that began over a year ago.

 

The Swiss-engineered Solar Impulse 2 was piloted by Bertrand Piccard on the final part of the epic expedition that took off from Cairo earlier this week. The final stop completes its 17-leg, milestone journey that used only the power of the sun's rays.

 

 

Quote

We have now just watched our shared dream unveil, becoming a reality" the Solar Impulse team said in a blog post. "Emotions, tears, relief, exhilaration is what we are all feeling right now after completing the first Round-the-World solar flight in history."

The lightweight aircraft, which weighs the same as an SUV but has the wingspan of a Boeing 747, is the brainchild of Piccard and Bertrand Borschberg, a Swiss engineer and businessman. The Solar Impulse is a single-seater, so the two men have shared the flying by taking different legs of the journey since March 2015.

 

My thoughts:  Really cool they made it and it was not shoot down or something lol 

 

 

Source : http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/26/aviation/solar-impulse-world-trip-complete/index.html?sr=fbCNN072616solar-impulse-world-trip-complete0607AMVODtopLink&linkId=26935567

 

 

[elfensky]

I wonder if the same idea is applicable to a Boeing size craft, or if we encounter the same problem as with rockets, where at some point the bigger you go starts being detrimental.

[Tech_Dreamer]

Zero Emissions, Zero fucks ..

[Real_PhillBert]

Took a year to go around the world...

 

Same aircraft that took 117 hours to fly from Japan to Hawaii. A normal airliner takes approximately 8.5 hours.

 

Interesting academic exercise, but really no more than that. 

[Misanthrope]

2 hours ago, Spiderloser said:

• The lightweight aircraft weighs the same as an SUV but has the wingspan of a Boeing 747

Umm that's seems like it's exceptionally fucking flimsy to me: I wouldn't wanna travel in a device that would be blown the fuck away by stiff winds in the middle of a fucking storm.

[Ivo]

16 minutes ago, Misanthrope said:

Umm that's seems like it's exceptionally fucking flimsy to me: I wouldn't wanna travel in a device that would be blown the fuck away by stiff winds in the middle of a fucking storm.

you wont have to. This is a step in the right direction. Even if they use this technology to reduce the current emissions it will be a success.