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05-03-2013, 09:31 AM | |
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Solar Plane Takes Off on Historic Coast-to-Coast Flight
http://news.yahoo.com/solar-plane-ta...135018073.html
A solar-powered airplane that can fly day and night without using a single drop of fuel embarked on an unprecedented flight across the United States today (May 3). The solar-powered aircraft, named Solar Impulse, took off from Moffett Airfield near San Francisco, Calif., shortly after 9:00 a.m. EDT (6:00 a.m. PDT). The plane will now head south on the first 19-hour leg of its journey, and is expected to touch down at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport on Saturday (May 4) at 4:00 a.m. EDT (1:00 a.m. PDT). Solar Impulse is the first aircraft capable of flying day and night without using any fuel. The plane relies solely on its solar panels and onboard batteries for power. During today's flight, the aircraft is expected to reach a cruising altitude of 21,000 feet (6,400 meters). [Images: Cross-Country Flight in a Solar-Powered Plane] Solar Impulse founders Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg will alternate piloting the single-seater plane over the five legs of the journey. Piccard was at the controls for today's takeoff from California. |
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05-03-2013, 09:36 PM | #31 | |
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Quote:
If we had already had jumbo jets and Mach 3 fighter planes in the air when the Wright brothers first flew you might have a valid comparison to this stunt. |
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05-03-2013, 09:39 PM | #32 | |
Better to burn out...
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Quote:
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05-03-2013, 09:41 PM | #33 |
Better to burn out...
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But still though, these muther****ers are flying this shit without a drop of fuel. Why would someone be against that, unless they have an agenda.
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05-03-2013, 09:42 PM | #34 | |
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Cause it looks like a Maxi pad with wings....including a fat ass vagina right in the middle.
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05-03-2013, 09:43 PM | #35 | |
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I didn't say we'd all be out there flying on Solar Airlines in 10 years. But all technological advances start somewhere. There aren't any other solar powered jumbo jets or fighter planes out there, unless I've missed something. Computers used to take up a room. Cell phones used to be giant bricks you held to your head. Nobody stopped improving those things because we already had landline phones, or refused to make laptops because we had desktop computers. I don't understand why anyone would be so irritable about this. |
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05-03-2013, 09:49 PM | #36 |
Better to burn out...
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With Mikey being on a pacemaker, you'd think he'd be less political and more about the advancement of the human race. Mikey, quit being so bitter.
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05-03-2013, 09:51 PM | #37 | |
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Quote:
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05-03-2013, 10:00 PM | #38 | |
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Why does everyone keep saying I'm irritable or pissed or bitter about this? I think it's hilarious, not a source of angst like all of you seem to be taking it. The Wright brothers, working by themselves, fashioned a whole new technology for a smattering of dollars, and could barely get themselves noticed for a few years. A horde of scientists spending millions created an underpowered fragile slow-as-shit monstrosity and their accomplishment is plastered all over the news. Look, solar cells have been around for at least half a century, and improvements in them have been incremental at best. We now have a multimillion dollar solar-powered glider that can generate as much power as a cigarette lighter. I don't care who you are, that's funny. |
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05-03-2013, 10:08 PM | #39 |
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Mai hoarse can get me anywhere in dis dayum state, why wold I need anythin that can fly?
/1903 |
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05-03-2013, 10:19 PM | #40 |
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I fully believe that solar power as it is being explored right now is a dead end.
You want the power of the stars? Dump all this money being wasted on photovoltaic crap into fusion research. |
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05-03-2013, 10:22 PM | #41 |
Better to burn out...
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05-03-2013, 10:22 PM | #42 |
Better to burn out...
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Night Mickey, I'm heading to bed.
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05-04-2013, 01:16 AM | #43 |
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Sorry I couldn't finish the debate...Had stuff to do.
As for your other post about me being a fossil fuels guy - not at all. OTOH, I certainly believe that short term nothing else is as good...but I truly believe science will bring alternatives online in the near future. I just think a lot of things people rave about right now are wastes of time - like photovoltaic cells, wind turbines...But I think there are some interesting things out there like using the energy of the ocean's tides, for example, to generate electricity, or possibly more study of geothermal energy. At any rate, I'm off to bed as well. |
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05-04-2013, 01:20 AM | #44 |
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What are the odds this breaks apart in mid air???
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05-04-2013, 01:23 AM | #45 |
Shaken. Not stirred.
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It is all we will hear about for a couple weeks.
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