Pilot successfully lands Solar Impulse aircraft in Morocco

Readers' comments (14)

• Robin Stafford Allen | 11 Jun 2012 9:45 am

  @poskitt.
  Have a look at the .pdf referenced in the article. Lots of useful stuff in that.
  I find the ability to control and obtain the feedback signals over the distances involved quite mind-boggling.
  Robin

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• JohnK | 11 Jun 2012 12:56 pm

  There is a fundamental limit to the amount of energy that may be extracted from sunlight falling upon a 'collector' be it solar or thermal. This limit cannot be exceeded unless some form of concentrator is involved. This is why solar energy for powering heavier than air flying machines is, and will always remain, impractical. For powering Airships, maybe, but why are they not already well established as they have been around a while. As for flight duration, I believe unpowered gliders already make overnight flights. Using solar power merely adds weight to what is effectively a glider. This flight has no useful purpose other than another expensive 'technology demonstrator' burning up money, possibly taxpayer's money! It's about time some serious multi-disciplined engineers were required to vet all such projects prior to grants or other money being wasted on useless schemes such as this.

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• Anonymous | 12 Jun 2012 4:29 pm

  Some reference in the comments here to possible use as a cargo carrier... maybe a very light cargo, horse feathers perhaps. More likely applications are weather and spying related. Quite an achievement in any case!

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• Professor N.M.Butt | 13 Jun 2012 9:03 pm

  The next 10-20 years will be very important for these solar powered planes and are expected to be doing commercial business.The use of nanotechnology will enable lighter, stronger and thermally suitable materials on the one hand and nano-based very efficient solar cells on the other. The nano-based sensing, electronic and communication equipment will be lighter and more reliable will enable the availability of such planes competing with the present aeroplanes. Nanotechnology is another Industrial Revolution snd certainly going to play important role in aviation technology too, whether it is defence or civil aviation.
  Nanotechnology is going to influence our socio-economic life for the next 40-50 years and all such wonders will be seen by our grand children.
  Noor M Butt,
  Chairman and Professor,
  Preston Institute of Nano Science and Technology(PINSAT),
  Preston University,
  Islamabad.

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