This is their first attempt to fly overnight using power stored during the day.
The plane is called Solar Impulse and this overnight test flight is the first stepping stone to what will eventually be trans-Atlantic and around the world attempts.

At one point they've already had to switch off their solar arrays because they were working too well
Although this is pretty cool, it is, like voyager, an exercise is efficiency, not a triumph of solar power per se.



http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/07/so ... eedfetcher

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... _article=1

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Mom, "It's a sunny day Gerald, go out and fly a kite"

Gerald, "Fuck you Mom, my plane runs on the sun now"

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Ok; this is possibly one of the coolest things I've ever freaking seen. Way to go science...oh yeah, and way to go NASA for developing the preliminary technology to create this modern marvel. Now go create peace in the Middle East while our foreign diplomats continue to make us look foolish

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Wow nice.

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Wheelhouse

The plane passed its first test.
It flew nonstop for 26 hours reaching altitudes in excess of 28,000 feet.

http://www.life.com/image/102700639/in- ... ess-flight

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Fucking. Awesome.

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mechaphil

I'd be surprised if the military hasn't already done this or is working on it.
High flying solar powered drones that never have to land.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

I wouldn't be surprised by it at all either.

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mechaphil