A Solar Powered Plane

hardflex · 07-07-2010, 08:16 AM

Fascinating

masraum · 07-07-2010, 08:27 AM

NASA Helios

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Is it IFR Certified?

island911 · 09:31 AM

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

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

island911 · 07-07-2010, 09:42 AM

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.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

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.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

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

Tim Hancock · 07-07-2010, 10:09 AM

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).

gtc · gtc's Garage

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

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtc

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.

Tim Hancock · 07-07-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtc

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

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

Tim Hancock · 07-07-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

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.

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

carambola · carambola's Garage

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

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtc

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

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.

TechnoViking · TechnoViking's Garage

Now, now, boys. We all know that the ROI on NASA expenditures is "unlimited", and will provide us benefits beyond our wildest dreams.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by carambola

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

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.

Tim Hancock · 07-07-2010, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carambola

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

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.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

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

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.

hardflex · 07-07-2010, 11:10 AM

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.

Tim Hancock · 07-07-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

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.

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.