Solar Plane Make It First International Fligt

Should read, 'Toy makes first international flight'.

Doesn't really appear a toy to me.

Looks to be an ambitious project with a noble goal.

How practical is it? Not very, but first steps are usually baby steps.

A toy can come in many sizes and at many different costs - this is just a large and expensive toy.

The leaps in technology required to make a solar plan practical are rather large.

"The leaps in technology required to make a solar plan practical are rather large."

Agreed. We really don't have a viable solution for conversion of available sunlight to energy for any real end use. Oh, there are a few PV autos, you can heat your swim pool with solar, charge your cell phone or laptop. We dabble and we tinker... and we have made a few advances.

I see the solar plane as more of a demonstration of what has been learned. There were undoubtedly some engineering hurdles to overcome, but (I believe) the largest part of the PV engineering existed, and was simply placed on a new platform. I may be way off here; the articles I found are not detail rich.

The airframe would be the engineering job. PV autos would be the same as airplanes - an engineers toy.

The PV application and electronics would be the same as you see at someone's home.

Similar to the PV powered car runs they have every year.

Actually solar water heating and air heating are quite practical and cost effective today.

Solar PV as well with the government subsidies/mandates etc. As long as you are the one with the system everyone else is helping to pay for it can be a great deal.

Hi Russ

This is how you spell expensive toy!

I thought of this 30 years ago when it became clear that solar panels where here to stay. Since materials have become more durable and the cells more efficient maybe I should start a new hobby.

It was thought to expand at high altitude and folded back when descending. In my dreams, I know.