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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBeautiful Bird!
Swiss pilots to attempt first around-the-world solar flightBertrand Piccard and André Borschberg will take turns piloting the single seater Solar Impulse 2 plane that is propelled solely by the sun
......some of the advances made for the project have real-world uses today.
To fly with the sun, day and night, we had to build an aircraft that is extremely energy efficient. These technologies that provide energy efficiency can be used in your home, in your car, in the appliances that you buy, he said.
The four motors that power the aircraft generate about half the power of a motorcross bike. But unlike conventional engines they lose only 3% of their energy through heat. The standard loss, says Borschberg, an engineer, is around 70%. According to the International Energy Agency, energy efficiency is the single cheapest way to reduce carbon emissions across the world.
With these technologies we can cope with a major part of the challenge we are facing today in terms of energy, environment, pollution, natural resources and so on, says Borschberg.
MORE:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/08/swiss-pilots-attempt-worlds-first-around-world-solar-flight
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Beautiful Bird! (Original Post)
kpete
Mar 2015
OP
DreamGypsy
(2,252 posts)1. Have a good flight, Solar Impulse...
...Safe Home.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)2. Solar Impulse Airplane : Exploration To Change The World
love_katz
(2,584 posts)3. Love this!
Wishing them golden success, safe flight, and a safe and triumphant return home.
Baitball Blogger
(46,756 posts)4. Go into the light!
tecelote
(5,122 posts)5. What a great story to be posted about the same time as...
Utilities wage campaign against rooftop solar
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026331997
yuiyoshida
(41,836 posts)6. of course, it had to be a picard! Going boldy where no ...yada yada yada
calimary
(81,440 posts)8. My first thought!
To boldly go where no bald man has gone before - to the height of sexiness!!! (Or maybe - "few bald men have..."
madokie
(51,076 posts)7. Go to the light
worry not the darkness as tomorrow will shine. Its through the small steps that great strides are made.
We humans have done some amazing things and this is but one of them. Good luck
brer cat
(24,592 posts)9. Safe flight, Solar Impulse! nt