Solar-powered aviation a developing industry?
In the film, “The Graduate”, a young Dustin Hoffman, fresh from a college graduation, is given advice from an older man who is a friend of the family about what to do with his life. The man says “plastics”, and since the late 60s the place to plastics is everywhere. But this column is not about plastics.
On April 8, 2010, a solar-powered plane made its first 90-minute flight in Payerne, Switzerland, according to an AP article by Bradley S. Klapper. Engineers for the seven-year, $93.5 million project are gearing up the craft for a voyage around the world. With the national and international interest in searching for alternative fuels and the rate that technology changes, this new device could have potential to become a thriving industry, as much as plastics has been for the past 50 or so years.
The appearance of the solar-powered place was different to say the least. Imagine what people thought when a small group observed events of December 17, 1903, when Orville Wright piloted the first powered airplane 20 feet above a wind-swept beach in North Carolina. The flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. Three more flights were made that day with Orville’s brother Wilbur piloting the record flight lasting 59 seconds over a distance of 852 feet. Now jet powered passenger crafts are longer than the first flight by the Wright Brothers.
The attempt to fly The Solar Impulse around the world is planned for 2012, according to Bertrand Piccard, the leader of the project. One of first groups really interested in the Wright device was the U.S. military looking for any military advantage over potential enemies, and probably the U.S. Military would be interested in the solar power flight.Already, unmanned drones have become an effective weapon in the Iraq war, loaded with smart bombs, and controlled by a staff hundreds of miles away.
Markus Scherdel, test pilot of the Solar Impulse, said the flight proved the plane could take off and land safely and handle like a passenger jet, so the future is here. It will be interesting to see how far and how quickly this new technology develops in the next 20 years. Much can happen in that short amount of time. Just get in your car and see how much plastic there is around you.
Peace be you with always,
Rev. Paul Abernathy
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” -2 Peter 1:2
Contact Paul Abernathy at paulabernathy@gmail.com.
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