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Re: Solar-Powered A/C's 1st Flight
Time to revive don's dormant thread (the second headline is a bit tongue in cheek):
Solar Impulse Takes Off on Round-the-World Trip
By Pia Bergqvist / Published: Mar 09, 2015
The second all-solar-powered version from the Swiss company Solar Impulse, Si2, took off early Monday morning from Abu Dhabi on its historic flight around the world. The team hopes that the Si2 will be able to circumnavigate the globe using nothing but solar power.
André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, the cofounders of Solar Impulse who have done most of the flight testing of the first and second versions of the aircraft, will alternate legs on the approximate 22,000-mile-long trip.
“This is an attempt, and only time will tell if we can overcome the numerous weather, technical, human and administrative issues,” they said. The first leg, from Abu Dhabi to Muscat, Oman, was flown by Borschberg. Piccard is picking up the second leg, which is planned from Muscat over the Arabian Sea to Ahmedabad, India.
To help maximize the chances of success, Solar Impulse has set up a mission control center (MCC) in Monaco. The MCC will send and receive data to and from Si2 through satellite communication. The mission control team includes about 20 engineers and other specialists who will help analyze meteorological data, find the best route of flight, obtain the necessary international landing permissions and analyze any technological problems. Piccard has described the MCC as the “nerve center of our undertaking.”
Currently, the planned route of flight includes 12 stops and is expected to take 25 days to complete. But the team is taking its time and plans to finish the journey in about five months. Along the way, Solar Impulse and its partners will host several events to educate governments and schools about green technologies through the FutureIsClean initiative.
Read more at http://www.flyingmag.com/news/solar-...vXsO0ZrscSO.99
Si2 during one of the test flights in Abu Dhabi.
Solar Impulse Claims Two Speed Records in One Flight
By Pia Bergqvist / Published: Mar 19, 2015
Solar Impulse has completed the fourth of 12 legs on its historic flight around the world using nothing but solar power.A carnival-like atmosphere with local dance performances greeted pilot and co-founder of Solar Impulse Bertrand Piccard as he approached the runway in Mandalay, Myanmar, this morning, landing at 1:21 GMT, 7:51 p.m. in Mandalay.
Solar Impulse reached a peak altitude of 27,000 feet during the flight and a maximum speed of 216 km/hr — nearly 117 knots — thanks to the high altitude jet stream. That may not sound very fast, particularly when you are flying around the world, but Piccard said in a video after the flight, while still in the airplane, that he believes that was the fastest ground speed the Solar Impulse had ever achieved. He also believed he broke the record for slowest flight flying backward at about 20 km/hr as he circled during the descent into Mandalay.
The leg from Varanasi, India, to Mandalay took 13 hours 29 minutes. With a third of the legs now complete the team plans to stay in Mandalay for a few days before the all-solar-powered airplane will take off for Chongqing, China.
Time to revive don's dormant thread (the second headline is a bit tongue in cheek):
Solar Impulse Takes Off on Round-the-World Trip
By Pia Bergqvist / Published: Mar 09, 2015
The second all-solar-powered version from the Swiss company Solar Impulse, Si2, took off early Monday morning from Abu Dhabi on its historic flight around the world. The team hopes that the Si2 will be able to circumnavigate the globe using nothing but solar power.
André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, the cofounders of Solar Impulse who have done most of the flight testing of the first and second versions of the aircraft, will alternate legs on the approximate 22,000-mile-long trip.
“This is an attempt, and only time will tell if we can overcome the numerous weather, technical, human and administrative issues,” they said. The first leg, from Abu Dhabi to Muscat, Oman, was flown by Borschberg. Piccard is picking up the second leg, which is planned from Muscat over the Arabian Sea to Ahmedabad, India.
To help maximize the chances of success, Solar Impulse has set up a mission control center (MCC) in Monaco. The MCC will send and receive data to and from Si2 through satellite communication. The mission control team includes about 20 engineers and other specialists who will help analyze meteorological data, find the best route of flight, obtain the necessary international landing permissions and analyze any technological problems. Piccard has described the MCC as the “nerve center of our undertaking.”
Currently, the planned route of flight includes 12 stops and is expected to take 25 days to complete. But the team is taking its time and plans to finish the journey in about five months. Along the way, Solar Impulse and its partners will host several events to educate governments and schools about green technologies through the FutureIsClean initiative.
Read more at http://www.flyingmag.com/news/solar-...vXsO0ZrscSO.99
Si2 during one of the test flights in Abu Dhabi.
Solar Impulse Claims Two Speed Records in One Flight
By Pia Bergqvist / Published: Mar 19, 2015
Solar Impulse has completed the fourth of 12 legs on its historic flight around the world using nothing but solar power.A carnival-like atmosphere with local dance performances greeted pilot and co-founder of Solar Impulse Bertrand Piccard as he approached the runway in Mandalay, Myanmar, this morning, landing at 1:21 GMT, 7:51 p.m. in Mandalay.
Solar Impulse reached a peak altitude of 27,000 feet during the flight and a maximum speed of 216 km/hr — nearly 117 knots — thanks to the high altitude jet stream. That may not sound very fast, particularly when you are flying around the world, but Piccard said in a video after the flight, while still in the airplane, that he believes that was the fastest ground speed the Solar Impulse had ever achieved. He also believed he broke the record for slowest flight flying backward at about 20 km/hr as he circled during the descent into Mandalay.
 Si2 makes a striking image as it lands in Myanmar. |
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