Solar-Powered Planes Can Stay Aloft for Months


Interesting article by Phred Dvorak in the Wall Street Journal: Solar-Powered Planes Take Flight.

"Solar-powered planes won’t be flying people to their next vacation spot anytime soon. But these prototypes, most of which operate without humans, could lead to new alternatives for aerial surveillance on high-risk missions and emergency telecommunications in disaster zones."

I had two questions after reading the article:

1. Why don't they fill pockets in the wings and fuselage with helium for added lift?

2. A lot of energy is spent and a high likelihood of risk due to wind gusts is experienced during the slow and laborious take off. Why don't they launch them to, say, 10,000 ft. using a slow, modified bush plane?

 

Photo: Solar Impulse has a long stopover at a hangar in Honolulu and was opened to visitation. Four of my graduate students and I in summer 2015.


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