Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt's Not a UFO! A Strange Solar-Powered Plane Is Crossing the U.S.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-22/its-not-a-ufo-a-strange-solar-powered-plane-is-crossing-the-u-dot-sShortly after midnight in early May, a strange aircraft approached Phoenixs Sky Harbor International Airport. It had the wingspan of a jumbo jet but flew at only about 40 miles per hour; 16 bright, bluish-white lights shone along the leading edge of its spindly wings. Concerned Phoenicians called the police to report an alien landing.
Sky Harbors air traffic control explained to Phoenix police that the ostensible UFO was really a solar-powered airplane: the Solar Impulse, an experimental aircraft completing the first, 19-hour leg of a flight across the United States. Then the police asked how it could fly at night if its solar-powered. (Batteries.)
The Solar Impulse is scheduled to take off on Wednesday for its next leg, from Phoenix to Dallas. The 830-mile trip would be the longest ever for a piloted solar aircraft.
The part of the UFO story that most pleases Dr. Bernard Piccard, the Swiss explorer who flew the Solar Impulse into Phoenix is that so many people noticed the lights, which are made from energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Together, all 16 lights consume just 150 watts, Piccard says.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
11 replies, 2016 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (6)
ReplyReply to this post
11 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
It's Not a UFO! A Strange Solar-Powered Plane Is Crossing the U.S. (Original Post)
Bonobo
May 2013
OP
opiate69
(10,129 posts)1. "Then the police asked how it could fly at night if it’s solar-powered."
Recursion
(56,582 posts)7. I had the same thought at first, personally (nt)
Deep13
(39,154 posts)2. Ack! UFO! nt
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)4. OMG, what will they children think!? nt
niyad
(113,074 posts)3. damn, why didn't they think of using that as an excuse on 20 march 97?
NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)5. Absolutely awesome.
I have thought about something like this for years, but I never had the knowledge or ability to contribute to a project like this.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)6. Phoenicians? Really?
I guess that makes sense etymologically...
greyl
(22,990 posts)8. Better headline: "It's Not an Alien Spacecraft!", etc
It would better describe what business week was referring to.
Wounded Bear
(58,601 posts)9. But it is technically correct....
They know what it is, so by definition it is not a UFO-Unidentified Flying Object.
It is an IFO.
Danascot
(4,690 posts)11. So would the pilot be
Captain Piccard?