For “Emergency” backup? Or as separate power source for the R/C flight controls just in case the H2 “goes Hindenburg” and you want to land the thing?
I was impressed with the size of the solar array and how well it was anchored. All that for a puny model plane? How big (and expensive and carbon polluting) will a full size prototype be? Don’t think this is going to be able to compete cost-wise with simple PV arrays or windmills in those out-of-the-way places.
It’s reassuring to see development of technologies that we must implement in our future. Good news from NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center too on the arrival of a unique experimental demonstrator, which may herald a future in which many aircraft are powered by electric motors.
Sounds promising, but they could have explained what the LiPo batteries were for!
For “Emergency” backup? Or as separate power source for the R/C flight controls just in case the H2 “goes Hindenburg” and you want to land the thing?
I was impressed with the size of the solar array and how well it was anchored. All that for a puny model plane? How big (and expensive and carbon polluting) will a full size prototype be? Don’t think this is going to be able to compete cost-wise with simple PV arrays or windmills in those out-of-the-way places.
It’s reassuring to see development of technologies that we must implement in our future. Good news from NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center too on the arrival of a unique experimental demonstrator, which may herald a future in which many aircraft are powered by electric motors.
http://climate.nasa.gov/news/2286/
…… and news in the New Scientist of low carbon transport around the Amazon, saving helicopters and building of roads:-
“I’m building airships to fly over the Amazon”
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22630210.400-im-building-airships-to-fly-over-the-amazon.html#.VVqtllLfXBt
Air Alaska also making progress:
“Alaska Airlines, Gevo To Demonstrate Renewable Alcohol-to-Jet Fuel”
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2015/05/alaska-airlines-gevo-to-demonstrate-renewable-alcohol-to-jet-fuel.html
Coming soon to a drone bombing village weddings in Pakistan, if the subtle hints in the video are to be believed.