UM-Bot Posted July 26, 2016 #1 Share Posted July 26, 2016 The aircraft, which is powered entirely by the sun, has succeeded in flying around the entire world. http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/297124/solar-impulse-completes-historic-global-trip 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merc14 Posted July 26, 2016 #2 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Unbelievable! Seriously, this is an amazing accomplishment but not something I'd ever volunteer to do. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeastieRunner Posted July 26, 2016 #3 Share Posted July 26, 2016 4 hours ago, Merc14 said: Unbelievable! Seriously, this is an amazing accomplishment but not something I'd ever volunteer to do. Indeed, me too! I'd be too worried about it not working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merc14 Posted July 26, 2016 #4 Share Posted July 26, 2016 16 minutes ago, BeastieRunner said: Indeed, me too! I'd be too worried about it not working. The sheer boredom and cramped conditions would kill me. Could never be an astronaut for the same reason . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundew Posted July 26, 2016 #5 Share Posted July 26, 2016 A long stretch of clouds over the Pacific could ruin your whole day. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted July 26, 2016 #6 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Wow. That is seriously impressive. The pilot is braver than I would ever be, for sure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperdyer Posted July 27, 2016 #7 Share Posted July 27, 2016 I forget how many days the plane was one the ground due to bad weather. Incredible, yes, but a long way to go to be practical. I sure hope the FAA would make the plane have a fuel back-up system for emergencies. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted July 27, 2016 #8 Share Posted July 27, 2016 1 hour ago, paperdyer said: I forget how many days the plane was one the ground due to bad weather. Incredible, yes, but a long way to go to be practical. I sure hope the FAA would make the plane have a fuel back-up system for emergencies. Yeah, I don't know how that works on a regulatory level of an experimental trans-world aircraft. I think the idea was to be "pure solar", without any conventional engine "back-up" Not sure, though. I would think significant permissions and approvals would have to be obtained prior to flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merc14 Posted July 28, 2016 #9 Share Posted July 28, 2016 (edited) As far as I could research there was no secondary propulsion system. Honestly, the bloody thing could glide forever so maybe not an issue. It is, in no way, a practical design but neither was the Spirit of St. Louis and look at how fast things evolved after Lindbergh's flight. Let's see what industry does with it. Great stuff Solar Impulse team. Edited July 28, 2016 by Merc14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zalmoxis Posted July 29, 2016 #10 Share Posted July 29, 2016 I wonder if NASA will use this or similar technology for their Venus balloon missions. Send drones off the balloons to circumnavigate Venus and then return to the balloon bases. Here's a link to a NASA article about that mission: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/venus-20070827.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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