http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/ Engadget Comments for Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse takes flight http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 5:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 6:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 5:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 6:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 6:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/
Now we at least know why they banned minarets in Switzerland :P]]>Dec 4th 2009 7:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 6:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 6:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/While we are debating here many additional solders need to be sent to fight a stupid war, they are figuring out and investing in atom splitting (Large Hadron Collider) and solar cell driven airplanes.

We really need to review our priorities. ]]>Dec 4th 2009 6:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/
Agreed!]]>Dec 4th 2009 7:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/
Yes, while we are debating health care, argung about soldiers, and measuring our societal wealth by consumer spending, the Swiss are building partcile accelerators, solar power planes, and banning minarets over a certain height. At least in America, you can build your minaret as high as you want. You can also do you own electrical work, unlike in Switzerland.



]]>Dec 4th 2009 7:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/sure would be tough fighting a war with solder.]]>Dec 4th 2009 7:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/
you failed to mention the wonderful mandatory military service. ]]>Dec 4th 2009 7:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 7:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 7:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/I thought that was Finland?]]>Dec 4th 2009 7:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Luckily the Swiss don't get attacked on their homeland by a terrorist organization.]]>Dec 4th 2009 8:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/
Not to take anything away from the Swiss, but the NASA has been working with private companies such as AeroVironment, AstroFlight, etc, on this stuff for quite a while, and have had quite a few similar planes since the 80's. Their 80,000 feet record is a tad above the 1 meter done by the Swiss plane so far.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-054-DFRC.html]]>Dec 4th 2009 9:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 9:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/
This is a manned flight, which is different than the link you posted.]]>Dec 4th 2009 12:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/
Ummm, you do realize that America is highly invested in the HADRON . . . .]]>Dec 4th 2009 12:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Yes, an the next step will be banning all the religions from our country, so we can finally start doing some serious scientific progres without worrying what outdated and old books say.]]>Dec 4th 2009 1:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 7:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 7:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 8:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 1:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 8:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 8:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 8:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Sure there is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa-DPz0K1S0
There's a whole youtube channel dedicated to it.]]>Dec 4th 2009 9:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 9:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 4th 2009 9:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.warp11.com/ra_lyrics_05.htm

The above probably isn't work safe.]]>Dec 4th 2009 10:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/
FAA Advisory Circular 90-89A covering first flights of amateur built aircraft in the US recommends initial test altitude of 3000 feet for the first flight.

"Boldly go where no man has gone before"? I think we are watching the wrong channel.

The author of this article needs to do much more research; there has been a host (flock?) of solar powered aircraft setting various records since 1979 (first manned solar powered flight). This aircraft is trying to beat the records set by the Sunseeker II for distance and altitude. ]]>Dec 4th 2009 11:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/
Baby steps are the hallmark of thoughtful engineering, especially when expensive-ass prototypes are involved. Seeing the quick progression from runway tests to powered flight leads me to believe that further advancement will not be long in coming.]]>Dec 4th 2009 12:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/Dec 5th 2009 1:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/04/captain-piccards-solar-impulse-takes-flight/
*Auguste Piccard constructed the first pressure cabin in1931 , and set two altitude records around sixteen kiolomters that would last for a long time.
* Jeanette Piccard (married to his brother) held the female altitude record all the way to the first female cosmonaut , Valentina Cherovskaya.
* Auguste went from pressure cabins to deep sea vessels , finally reaching below 4000 meters in 1954.
*His son Jaques was on the craft the father had constructed , Trieste , on the dive to the worlds deepest end , the Challenger Deep in 1960.
]]>Dec 13th 2009 12:00AM