Solar-powered aircraft flown for nearly three weeks without landing

Post by zdragnar » Mon, Oct 11, 2021, 9:07 PM UTC

mattlondon wrote: post #100

stareatgoats wrote: post #24

This is great and points to how solar in some cases already can facilitate continuous operation without the need for refueling of planes, boats, cars, you name it. Expect this to grow as battery and solar cell tech develops further. My favorites atm are the yachts that are capable of sailing just about anywhere in the world without a drop of fuel. The price is prohibitive, but considering that you might not need a ho…

I've always been kinda fascinated by this solar yacht concept. I wonder now with post-covid remote working options and starlink if you could actually make it work. I do wonder though if sailing the ship is basically a full-time job in itself (navigation channels? Docking at foreign countries? Getting food etc?).

Post by Stevvo » Mon, Oct 11, 2021, 9:19 PM UTC

stareatgoats wrote: post #24

This is great and points to how solar in some cases already can facilitate continuous operation without the need for refueling of planes, boats, cars, you name it. Expect this to grow as battery and solar cell tech develops further. My favorites atm are the yachts that are capable of sailing just about anywhere in the world without a drop of fuel. The price is prohibitive, but considering that you might not need a ho…

Post by noitpmeder » Mon, Oct 11, 2021, 9:30 PM UTC

zdragnar wrote: post #111

mattlondon wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've always been kinda fascinated by this solar yacht concept. I wonder now with post-covid remote working options and starlink if you could actually make it work. I do wonder though if sailing the ship is basically a full-time job in itself (navigation channels? Docking at foreign countries? Getting food etc?).

I thought starlink didnt work for mobile connections? I.e. that it had to be registered and operated at a fixed address. That said, unless you are able to drop anchors, I am guessing that you would spend most of your working hours at a dock or with a partner piloting instead.

Post by Stevvo » Mon, Oct 11, 2021, 9:33 PM UTC

mattlondon wrote: post #100

stareatgoats wrote: post #24

This is great and points to how solar in some cases already can facilitate continuous operation without the need for refueling of planes, boats, cars, you name it. Expect this to grow as battery and solar cell tech develops further. My favorites atm are the yachts that are capable of sailing just about anywhere in the world without a drop of fuel. The price is prohibitive, but considering that you might not need a ho…

I've always been kinda fascinated by this solar yacht concept. I wonder now with post-covid remote working options and starlink if you could actually make it work. I do wonder though if sailing the ship is basically a full-time job in itself (navigation channels? Docking at foreign countries? Getting food etc?).

Post by kbenson » Mon, Oct 11, 2021, 9:47 PM UTC

teraflop wrote: post #79

bagels wrote: post #66

To fly through the night, you need energy. I'm wondering if it's more efficient to store it in the batteries, or as stored kinetic energy by flying to a high altitude and descending through the night.

It's a good idea, in principle. But according to the sources I could find, to get enough gravitational potential energy to equal the electrical capacity of Zephyr's batteries, you'd have to lift the entire craft by about 70km. https://www.aviationpros.com/engines-components/aircraft-air... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_Zephyr I can imagine you'd want to take advantage of gravity to a certain extent, but it see…