Mini Science Buzz

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

http://www.itwire.com/science-news/energy/40277-aircraft-uses-stored-sunlight-to-fly-all-night

A solar powered airplane, lets let that sink in for a moment. Even though it was a one man flight, this is the next step to cleaner skies.

 

[delet]

Terrific news! The fact that planes fly well above the clouds means it'll be more in sunlight for most of the time anyway. Very good, science, very good!

 

[Jorias]

http://www.itwire.com/science-news/energy/40277-aircraft-uses-stored-sunlight-to-fly-all-night

A solar powered airplane, lets let that sink in for a moment. Even though it was a one man flight, this is the next step to cleaner skies.

Oh we have a long way to go before commercial jet liners are powered by the sun. Not that it would be very safe, now that i think about it...what a very bad idea...

 

[snowman6251]

Can they make a plane that runs on Canadian Geese?

 

[snowman6251]

Edit: Double Post. Fuck.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

"Jorias" post="18.210348.7119107"]Oh we have a long way to go before commercial jet liners are powered by the sun. Not that it would be very safe, now that i think about it...what a very bad idea...

Has to be safer than drunk pilots. Combine this with the flying car they are trying to get released and it would make it cheaper to cross large distances.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

The flying car will require a special license.

 

[Pipsquid]

I can't imagine a Boeing 747 jumbo being powered by solar electricity...but oh well

 

[JRCB]

Can they make a plane that runs on Canadian Geese?

I wish!

On a side note, having a solar powered jetliner would be very slow. The jet engine needs jet fuel in order to run, and I cannot think of a way that electricity could power a plane in any way other than with a propeller. However, some prop planes can go quickly, but not nearly as fast as a jetliner.

 

[Riobux]

Question is, when will they create solar panels efficient enough to power a full size plane which are cheap enough to produce in large quantities?