Solar Impulse 2 takes off from California, starts solar-powered trek across US

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Fox News

Solar Impulse 2 takes off from California, starts solar-powered trek across US

By James Rogers · Published May 02, 2016 · FoxNews.com



File photo - In this April 23, 2016 file photo, Solar Impulse 2 flies over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco at the end of its journey from Hawaii, part of its attempt to circumnavigate the globe. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) (AP2016)

Solar Impulse 2 has taken off from California on the tenth leg of its record-breaking solar-powered journey around the world. ... The plane took off from Moffett Airfield at 8:03 a.m. ET Monday, starting its trek across the U.S. Piloted by Andre Borschberg, Solar Impulse 2 is expected to arrive at Phoenix Goodyear Airport around 12:00 a.m. ET Tuesday after a 16-hour, 720-mile flight.

After Phoenix, the aircraft will make two stops in the Midwest before flying to New York. The Solar Impulse team wants to reach New York as soon as possible, according to a statement released on Monday. However, the plane’s Midwestern stops have not yet been confirmed. “The team is examining a wide range of potential destinations in the mainland to leave a maximum flexibility for route planning,” explained Solar Impulse, in its statement.

Related: Solar-powered plane lands in California, completing risky trip across Pacific

....
Solar Impulse 2, a larger version of a single-seat prototype that first flew six years ago, is made of carbon fiber and has 17,248 solar cells built into the wing that supply the plane with renewable energy, via four motors. The solar cells recharge four lithium polymer batteries, which provide power for night flying. .... The aircraft typically flies between 30 mph and 40 mph, although this can increase and decrease significantly depending on wind speed.

Borschberg piloted Solar Impulse 2 on the eighth leg of its journey, landing in Hawaii on July 3 2015 after an incredible 4,480-mile, five -day flight from Japan. The 118-hour journey shattered the record for longest solar-powered flight in terms of distance and duration, easily surpassing the 1,491-mile, 44-hour record Borschberg set when flying from China to Japan on the prior leg of the trip. Borschberg also broke the record for longest non-stop solo flight without refueling, which previously stood at 76 hours and 45 minutes.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/05/02/solar-impulse-2-takes-off-from-california-starts-solar-powered-trek-across-us.html

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Their website: Solar Impulse

[Gregorian]

1. It's a really cool plane.

I recently ran around looking for links to the construction and design. It's something like 14hp for each of the four motors. It's one of those bike related things with respect to strength to weight. But it's just low impact. And noble, like bikes. I'd love to see shipping take a slower route in order to alter the course of climate change. That's where I hope this is going.

I almost wish I lived in my old house. I had an atrium where I got to enjoy the special projects that flew in and out of Moffett Field. I'd have loved to have seen this. Although, being silent I'd have most likely missed it.

[awoke_in_2003]

2. Imagine the light spill if it crashes

Seriously, this is cool. K&R

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. There would be photons everywhere, as far as the eye could see.

Last edited Tue May 3, 2016, 11:27 AM - Edit history (1)

I don't have to remind you of the link between exposure to the sun and skin cancer.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. I'm more worried

about dihydrogen monoxide poisoning

[mahatmakanejeeves]

6. It has a powerful lobby, and they're always flip-flopping.

Well, flipping, I'm sure of. Flopping, maybe not so much.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. We're doomed

[Eugene]

3. Solar-powered plane lands in Arizona on round-the-world flight

Source: Reuters

Technology | Tue May 3, 2016 1:12am EDT

Solar-powered plane lands in Arizona on round-the-world flight

LOS ANGELES | BY STEVE GORMAN

A solar-powered airplane midway through a historic bid to circle the globe completed the tenth leg of its journey on Monday, landing in Arizona after a 16-hour flight from California, the project team said.

The Swiss team flying the aircraft in a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies hopes eventually to complete its circumnavigation in Abu Dhabi, where the journey began in March 2015.

The spindly, single-seat experimental aircraft, dubbed Solar Impulse 2, arrived in Phoenix shortly before 9 p.m., following a flight from San Francisco that took it over the Mojave Desert.

The flight would have taken a conventional airplane just two hours, but the solar craft's cruising speed, akin to that of a car, required pilots to take up meditation and hypnosis in training to stay alert for long periods.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-solar-plane-idUSKCN0XT1N5