Solar Impulse II Makes California

On Wed, 27 Apr 2016 08:16:24 +1200, george152 wrote:

On 4/27/2016 4:39 AM, Larry Dighera wrote:

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Solar-Impulse-II-Makes-California-226128-1.html
Solar Impulse II Makes California

Solar Impulse II completed a 56-hour leg from Hawaii to Mountain View,
California just before midnight local time on Saturday. The aircraft, which had
to undergo a refit in Hawaii after the epic leg from Japan wrecked its
batteries, reportedly performed flawlessly on the trip, which ended with a
dramatic entrance over the Golden Gate Bridge on the way to Mountain View just
south of San Francisco. "WOW. A normal day as an explorer," the organization
tweeted as it sent out an iconic photo of the aircraft over the bridge shot
from a chase aircraft with founder Bertrand Piccard at the controls.

"It's a new era. It's not science fiction. It's today," Piccard told CNN from
California after landing. "It exists and clean technologies can do the
impossible." A big window of benign weather, rare for the North Pacific, helped
the effort and the landing was under clear skies. The Mountain View landing was
a diversion from the scheduled U.S. arrival point of Phoenix and it's not clear
what route the aircraft will take as it crosses the U.S. It has a major
challenge ahead with a northern Atlantic crossing on its way to finishing the
circumnavigation in Abu Dhabi. Video: https://youtu.be/wQCOfuwG6ss.

It's a toy.
One seat
flies at 30 odd knots
and cooks batteries in a -c environment
And is accompanied by an inflatable hangar, ground crew in commercial
airliners

Personally, I wouldn't characterize it as a toy, but more like a proof of
concept vehicle, to demonstrate the feasibility of harvesting the sun's energy
to potentially provide clean, sustainable transportation.

At any rate, if Solar Impulse II successfully flies around the world solely
powered by energy from the sun, I'd equate that with Lindbergh's solo Atlantic
feat, at least.

At last, electric power appears to have planted its banner solidly in the
fertile soil of transportation. And, hydrogen fuel makes it a clean, feasible
alternative to gasoline, that can be generated by solar powered electrolysis of
water (on the ground) without the pollution of petrochemical extraction and
emissions. Current photovoltaic cell's limited efficiency preclude their use
to power heaver than air aircraft in a practical way, but for lighter than air
aircraft, they may be quiet well suited, as they won't have to provide the
power to support the weight of the aircraft, only propel it.

It's about time superior technology pushed aside the vested interests, and be
recognized for its true benefits. Perhaps there's hope the 21st century may
initiate an era that transcends politics, profiteers, and plutocrats,
recognizes the limitations of a closed system, and offers long term,
sustainable solutions. We can hope ...