A Solar Powered Plane
 

Fascinating

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https://www.fiddlersgreen.net/aircra...g-Inflight.jpg

NASA Helios

Is it IFR Certified? :)

Over a $100 Million to do what a blimp will do.

Actually, (obviously) a blimp can lift a lot more.

And, btw, a solar powered blimp makes much more sense. Using solar cells to power a PEM you split water into O₂ and H₂ and have a battery made of hydrogen gas . . .which, btw is lighter than air. Also, blimps have lots of surface area for solar arrays, which can work at low sun angles.


But at least the plane is WAY more expensive. ...so it has that going for it. :cool:

Gee, I wonder how long that plane would have to fly to make the fuel savings pay for itself. With NASA's efficiency, they'd probably choose to heat the air in a balloon by burning stacks of hundred dollar bills.

How does this further their mission of making the world more Muslim-friendly again?

Solar and battery powered airplanes are nothing but oddities.

The solar powered planes have to be built so light that they will never be able to hold any meaningful payload other than maybe some scientific data collecting sensors.

The battery powered planes are severely hampered by battery weight which affects both useful payload and/or flight time. If battery technology ever advances enough to provide a 150lb battery capable of driving a 100 hp motor for 3-4 hours, then maybe they could become feasible (but I doubt it).

Ahhhhhh yes, PPOT, where even a solar powered airplane will be politicized...

The point is, if you have an idea and it doesn't immediately work profitably - forget it.
Good thing there were no message boards when Edison was working on the light bulb.

Whether you like it or not in today's world, green energy projects=global warming BS=Algore=politics ;)

If Edison were alive today, I doubt he would waste his time building useless vehicles.

what if the solar was only used to maintain speed while in the air and another fuel was used for takeoff?
a solar powered glider kinda thing

Why shouldn't it be politicized when it's a totally false economy, supported by my tax dollars, built by an agency our regime has now tasked with cozying up to Muslim states? If that ain't political, I don't know what is.

Now, show me some entrepreneurs who raise private money and build a better mousetrap for a tiny fraction of the cost and we'll leave the politics out of it.

RATO - and keep a couple extra on board in case of a downdraft.

My first reaction to this story was how cool of an engineering problem it was. My feelers aren't always out looking for something to politicize so I didn't notice the NASA on the side. But this is a project best left to private tinkerers. NASA is getting like the NEA - tax money looking for somewhere to be spent. I think NASA needs to have it's budget cut.

Sure that would be possible, but the bird will only be "useful" for surveillance or science..... It is never going to be the future of general or commercial aviation because photovoltaic solar does not make enough useful energy and batteries alone are WAY too heavy.

Yeah, he wouldn't waste his time on anything useless. That's why he worked so hard to make direct current power transmission the success it is today.

The vid I posted is a Swiss endeavor which was launched today, so relax, it's not your tax money. The NASA pic project was unmanned, a remote controlled vehiclefrom a few years ago.

So Today's was the first manned flight.

It's projects like these that push the envelope of efficiency in solar panels and electric power. And, it appears, in snide remarks.

Well there you have it. Maybe you can come up with an "AC" battery the size of a double A DC battery that will drive a 200 hp AC motor for 12 hours that weighs 10 pounds.