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BBC reports 12kg 'stratoplane'.
Looks like a close cousin of human-powered aircraft...
See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3016082.stm
...where a very high-altitude, lightweight 'stratoplane' is described. It has a 12-metre wingspan, but weighs just 12kg. Solar panels give 1000W of motor power.
Interesting to see very lightweight technology being developed so seriously - even though in this case human power is not involved, surely some of the wing design and materials know-how would be most intriguing to HP aircraft (and even land vehicle) designers.
Some useful human power aircraft links:
The IHPVA website air page
The Royal Aeronautical Society's Human Powered Flight Group
Posted on 24 June 2003
Your comments ...| From: John J ([email protected]) on 25 June 2003 |
| Sounds very much like the developments described by John Mcintyre at Spokesfest 2000. He gave a talk about human powered flight and the development of the Airglow HPA. He suggested the practical use of the technology he had developed, as the application of solar/electric high altitude aircraft to do the job of weather baloons! |
| From: Seamus ([email protected]) on 25 June 2003 |
HP aircraft are pretty well useless in owt beyond still air, in part due to their lightweight construction. Surely the same would apply to this aircraft. Kind of limits their imaginings for future use.
"Squadrons of these high-flying solar planes could be stationed permanently in the sky." |
| From: sprocketbender (cloud9.org) on 25 June 2003 |
| ahh, but these fly above the weather that us mortals have to endure. ps here's a tip, if you've got any shares in satellite makers, sell them soon.... |
| From: £££ (£££) on 25 June 2003 |
| Watch out for frisbee flinging psycle photographers |
| From: RtH (@cycling consultants) on 25 June 2003 |
| what ever happened to him? haven't heard from him in ages |
| From: Norti Rascal (@hmp.com) on 25 June 2003 |
Is he still obsessed with bags? Both types.
Rascal N 67844532 |
| From: Seamus ([email protected]) on 26 June 2003 |
| He was the Official Photographer at the CTC York Rally. |
| From: sue ([email protected]) on 26 June 2003 |
| And only last week, he was planning to sell me as a bride to a guy in Tower Hamlets who admired my CoC lorry driving skills... |
| From: andy scaife ([email protected]) on 26 June 2003 |
| How Much, and where do I put my bid in? |
| From: andy Scaife ([email protected]) on 26 June 2003 |
| I saw him only yesterday. Saw a brommie with a bag, topped by an orange t-shirt, and shouted "Jase!" before I realised my blunder... I was driving a car, stuck in traffic, and had just attracted the attention of a photographer. Bugger! |
| From: S (etc) on 26 June 2003 |
| It'll be like the one of Tom Johnson as an angry motorist that accompanied an article in the CTC mag. |
| From: Tom (Tom@compofcyclistsetc) on 26 June 2003 |
| None of you have mentioned his obsession with dwarves... Or is that only in Bike Week? |
| From: Ralf Grosser ([email protected]) on 26 June 2003 |
This solarplane is based on the Work of Dr. Paul Mc Cready (Hope this is how you spell his name!)
He is the father of the Gossamer Albatross, Gossamer Condor, Dadelus, and Solar Challenger.
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| From: S (etc) on 27 June 2003 |
Dwarves?
Do tell us more, Tom. |
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