Solar Impulse begins 24-hour test flight, lets you watch the whole thing live

Boy, these Franco-Swiss research teams sure do like to exhibit their work to the world. After the Large Hadron Collider crew did a live webcast of their record-breaking 7 TeV proton collisions, here's Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse gang showing off their latest feat via a live video stream. Taking off shortly before 7AM Central European Time today, the HB-SIA craft is currently cruising above the idyllic plains of Switzerland, with the plan being for it to start gently descending through the night and plopping itself back down on terra firma early in the morning. Hit the source link to track its laps in real time, replete with sporadic commentary from the monitoring crew. It's riveting stuff.

[Lexis Posted Jul 7th 2010 6:25AM]

@sbudbud
Shut up with the stupid blend thing.
You just want to be highest ranked.

I think this is an amazing project!

[cashclientel Posted Jul 7th 2010 6:26AM]

@sbudbud Does it play chuck norris in ur internetz?

Pretty cool thing though - once practical like this it won't be long till it goes commercial.

[sbudbud Posted Jul 7th 2010 6:59AM]

@Lexis
I did read the article, don't get me wrong, I see where this could be very useful.

[A25i Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:56AM]

@Lexis
But, will it blend?

[A25i Posted Jul 7th 2010 12:01PM]

@Lexis
I need to know if it will BLEND!?

[DiMiTRiX Posted Jul 7th 2010 6:26AM]

I think this webcast is a great way to get the general public more interested in this scientific project.

[stoffer Posted Jul 7th 2010 7:36AM]

@Well, I think that the problem is not of technological importance. Human endurance is the limit. In competition soaring endurance records are long abandoned, because they are simply pointless. Above certain glider pilot skill lever the limiting factor is human fatigue.

Said that, I would love gliding to get more media coverage. It is a really environmental friendly sport and it is really fun fly gliders. Gliders usually can pull more G than aircraft because they have to make tight turn in thermals.

[TZ Bill Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:42AM]

@stoffer
Don't gliders require a big gas burning - exhaust belching plane to tow them up to altitude before they begin their eco-friendly gliding?

[stoffer Posted Jul 7th 2010 10:05AM]

@TZ Bill Nope. A Cub with 75 hp engine will be perfectly fine or even a motor glider like Super Dimona HK36. You can also use a glider winch which is even better because in principle it burns gas only during launch, which is very short time duration. You could also make an electric which, you just need to make power outlets at both ends of the airfield which is not a big deal.
.
Besides that, you once towed aloft, you can stay in the air for a few hours, so the the fuel burnt during launch or tow is irrelevant.
.
Gliders in reality are solar powered aircraft, but not directly. The solar energy is converted into the energy of the air currents in the atmosphere and gliders use exactly that to stay aloft for hours.

[BlackRock Shooter Posted Jul 7th 2010 7:44AM]

Wow O.o 9000 meters in the air in an unpressurized cockpit with freezing temperatures for 24 hours? Sounds pretty bad-ass

[tech404 Posted Jul 7th 2010 8:46AM]

@BlackRock Shooter And there using an EVO as the camera!!!

[teedo757 Posted Jul 7th 2010 9:44AM]

Here is the link to the live feed directly:

http://www.solarimpulse.com/nightFlights/index.php?lang=en

[jamesFF Posted Jul 8th 2010 3:26AM]

@teedo757

Thanks for the post. I was able to tune in just in time to see him land after a 26hour flight. pretty cool

[savagemike Posted Jul 7th 2010 3:56PM]

Pretty cool.
Read the blog entries on their site.
Really quite funny.