Beautiful Bird!

[kpete]

Swiss pilots to attempt first around-the-world solar flight
Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg will take turns piloting the single seater Solar Impulse 2 plane that is propelled solely by the sun





......some of the advances made for the project have real-world uses today.

“To fly with the sun, day and night, we had to build an aircraft that is extremely energy efficient. These technologies that provide energy efficiency can be used in your home, in your car, in the appliances that you buy,” he said.

The four motors that power the aircraft generate about half the power of a motorcross bike. But unlike conventional engines they lose only 3% of their energy through heat. The standard loss, says Borschberg, an engineer, is around 70%. According to the International Energy Agency, energy efficiency is the single cheapest way to reduce carbon emissions across the world.

“With these technologies we can cope with a major part of the challenge we are facing today in terms of energy, environment, pollution, natural resources and so on,” says Borschberg.



MORE:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/08/swiss-pilots-attempt-worlds-first-around-world-solar-flight

[DreamGypsy]

1. Have a good flight, Solar Impulse...

...Safe Home.

[Major Nikon]

2. Solar Impulse Airplane : Exploration To Change The World

[love_katz]

3. Love this!

Wishing them golden success, safe flight, and a safe and triumphant return home.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Go into the light!

[tecelote]

5. What a great story to be posted about the same time as...

Utilities wage campaign against rooftop solar

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026331997

[yuiyoshida]

6. of course, it had to be a picard! Going boldy where no ...yada yada yada

[calimary]

8. My first thought!

To boldly go where no bald man has gone before - to the height of sexiness!!! (Or maybe - "few bald men have...&quot

[madokie]

7. Go to the light

worry not the darkness as tomorrow will shine. Its through the small steps that great strides are made.

We humans have done some amazing things and this is but one of them. Good luck

[brer cat]

9. Safe flight, Solar Impulse! nt