Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Swiss solar plane makes history with 26hr flight
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Swiss solar plane makes history with 26hr flight
AFP - Friday, July 9
Send
IM Story
Print
Swiss solar plane makes history with 26hr flight
PAYERNE, Switzerland (AFP) - – A solar-powered aircraft made history on Thursday after flying around the clock on the sun's energy alone, bringing a step closer the dream of perpetual flight.
After 26 hours in the air, the experimental Solar Impulse aircraft with pilot Andre Borschberg onboard made a seamless landing at Payerne airbase in western Switzerland at 9.01 am (0701 GMT), about three hours after daybreak.
"It's the first time ever that a solar airplane has flown through the night," said team chief Bertrand Piccard, the Swiss adventurer who masterminded the project.
"That was the moment that proved the mission was successful, we made it," said Piccard, who achieved the first round-the-world balloon flight in 1999 and whose father and grandfather both broke height and depth records.
Alighting from the single-seater plane with wings the size of an airliner's covered with solar cells, after sitting day and night in the narrow cockpit, Borschberg told AFP that he felt that he was "floating."
"I have the impression that I'm still in the air," the 57-year-old said on the tarmac, as he was showered by congratulations and slaps on the back from the 70-strong team. Related article: Solar plane packed with technology
"I feel very pleased, really happy. It was a crucial step. Now we'll go even further, we'll do long missions," said Borschberg.
The aircraft had taken off from Payerne at 0451 GMT Wednesday, for 14 hours of sunshine to power its engines and charge its batteries for the night flight through its array of 12,000 solar cells.
Flight director Claude Nicollier said the flight had exceeded expectations overnight just as Borschberg guided the Solar Impulse towards a landing just after dawn.
"It's a super flight, better than nominal," added Nicollier, a former space shuttle astronaut, on Thursday morning. Related article: Solar Impulse pilot faces overnight challenge
"We needed also a litle bit of luck, which we had with the weather which was absolutely perfect," he marvelled.
As darkness fell Wednesday, there were fears that a brief burst of strong high altitude winds had deprived Solar Impulse of some of the stored energy to last the night.
Borschberg seemed unflustered by the 26-hour experience, dismissing "one or two little difficulties."
"The flight was really zen. It's very peaceful, during this time you have the time to think and to concentrate," he explained.
Piccard revealed that Solar Impulse had emerged from darkness with three hours of energy left in its batteries, a far bigger margin than expected.
It was also able to take immediate advantage of a new burst of energy as the sun rose and recharge its batteries by the time it landed.
"Nothing can prevent us from another day and night... and the myth of perpetual flight," an elated Piccard told journalists, as his sights shifted towards the prospect of transatlantic and round the world flights in 2013-2014.
The first prototype, shaped like a giant dragonfly, is clad with solar panels across a wingspan of 63 metres (207 feet), the size of an Airbus A340 airliner.
The solar cells and nearly half a tonne of batteries provide energy for four small electric motors and propellers -- the "power of a scooter", as the crew put it -- and weigh little more than a saloon car.
The team is driven by a desire to demonstrate that clean energy and fuel saving is technically feasible and should be developed and used more widely for transport, in the household and at work.
"We didn't really have credibility until today," admitted Piccard. "What we have done today in the air is an example of what should be done on the ground."
However, the venture was looking for partners to help fill a 20 million Swiss franc shortfall in its overall 100 million franc (75 million euro, 95 million dollar) budget, mainly for a new, bigger plane, he revealed.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
EU-US agree to share citizens bank data AFP - 31 minutes ago
US-Russia may stage Cold War-style 'spy exchange' AFP - 43 minutes ago
UK-World Summary Reuters - 1 hour 23 minutes ago
Russian conductor rejects Thai rape charges AFP - 50 minutes ago
Special Report - In Irish schools, Catholic Church still master Reuters - 50 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
IMF presses US to cut debt
ECB key rate remains same amid bank concerns
ECB keeps main interest rate steady: spokesman
Thousands demonstrate as new strike cripples Greece
General strikes hit Greece and Portugal
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record
Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan jailed for 90 days
German industry hit by sudden fall in orders
Paris Hilton arrested after Brazil World Cup match: reports
IMF's global growth forecast amid financial shocks
More Most Viewed »
Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again
Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record
Aussie men shoot each other in buttocks 'to see if it hurts'
Amputee cat gets bionic legs
Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Thursday, 8 July 2010 Iraqi Shi'ite pilgrims killed by bombers
Cuba set to free 52 dissidents: church officials
US-TECH Summary
Germany to accept two Guantanamo detainees
Baghdad suicide attack and bombs kill 33: officials
Bin Laden's cook pleads guilty at Guantanamo
|
Borders sees new e-bookstore taking share
White House touts US export success
Baghdad attacks kill 33 Shiite pilgrims
AT&T, Alcatel Lucent find glitch affecting iPhone 4
Europe imposes caps on banker bonuses
US accuses top Al-Qaeda leaders in NY bomb plot
36 Iraqi Shi'ite pilgrims killed by bombers
|
Bin Laden's cook pleads guilty at Guantanamo
Borders launches e-book store
Taiwan flat-panel maker sues Sony for patent infringement
Cuba to free 52 political prisoners: church
|
Formal charges laid against alleged Russia spies
Poland to extradite alleged Israeli agent to Germany
New security measures for Apple's iTunes
Fueled by White House success, Netanyahu heads to UN
Quake victims protest in Italy
|
British climate scientists cleared of dishonesty
Iran says sanctions might slow nuclear programme
Colombia's Santos invites Chavez to inauguration
|
US, Russia planning to exchange spies: lawyer
U.S. court upholds Kuwaiti's Guantanamo detention
|
Palestinians wary of direct peace talks with Israel
Turkey's top court annuls parts of reform package
|
AT&T, Alcatel Lucent find glitch affecting iPhone 4
Taiwan flat-panel maker sues Sony for patent infringement
Indian army enforces Kashmir curfew after deaths
U.S. unseals new charges against 5 in New York plot
Bodies of Australian tycoon, board leave Congo after crash
Vietnam arrests 99 from Taiwan, China for fraud: report
East Timor hostile to Australian asylum-seeker plan
U.S.-Russia may seek spy swap to free agents
AT&T, Alcatel Lucent find glitch affecting iPhone 4
|
N.Korea warns against UN censure
Ridley Scott helms YouTube competition for documentary
China defends forex reserves investment strategy
Gaultier celebrates strong, seductive women
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Ridley Scott helms YouTube competition for documentary
China AgBank's massive IPO highlights cash squeeze
At 70, Ringo Starr looks for peace and love
Eminem leads U.S. album chart for second week
Ridley Scott teaming up with YouTube on documentary
Norwegian chess prodigy turns to fashion catwalk
Southern Chinese oppose ban on Cantonese TV
Catalonia prepares to vote on bullfight ban
Taiwan to lift ban on individual Chinese tourists
At 70, Ringo Starr looks for peace and love
|
Eminem leads U.S. album chart for second week
|
Netanyahu offers Palestinians talks on settlements
Spain willing to take Cuba political prisoners: FM
Netanyahu offers Palestinians talks on settlements
|
Apple says to open second flagship store in China
NATO airstrike accidentally kills 5 Afghan troops
Swiss solar plane completes historic flight
U.S.-Russia may seek spy swap to free agents
|
British gay Anglican 'blocked' from becoming bishop
IMF raises global growth forecast
MySpace sale reports are "fabrications": News Corp exec
Communist Cuba set to free 52 political prisoners
Greece faces strike chaos as MPs reform pensions
Canadian medical reactor gets nod to restart
Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record
Church says Cuba to free 52 political prisoners
|
YouTube unveils 'Leanback,' updated mobile site
French court orders more jail time for Noriega
Formal charges laid against alleged Russia spies
Greeks strike against pension reform
|
US program to detect cyberattacks on companies, agencies
Bombing suspect arrives in Cuba to face charges
|
US government launches new website on Gulf oil spill
Ex-Panama dictator Noriega sentenced to 7 years
|
U.S. aims to detect cyber infrastructure attacks: report
Israel PM offers settlement talks if peace talks resume
CNN Middle East editor leaves after Fadlallah 'tweet'
Mexican officials among 8 killed in plane crash
|
Wife of Balibo reporter blames army for killings
News
China launches global search for panda keepers
Modernising Tibet masks deep contradictions
Australia police probe devastating attack on crops
China court rejects gay lawsuit over blood donation
U.S. aims to detect cyber infrastructure attacks: report
|
East Timor PM open to Australia asylum-seeker plan
Thai PM says monarchy, army should stay out of politics
MySpace sale reports are fabrications: News Corp exec
|
S.Korea says N.Korea's blunders caused tensions
Apple says to open second flagship store in China
|
Japan's sumo bodyslammed by scandal
Ridley Scott helms YouTube competition for documentary
IMF warns of 'downside risks' in Asia
Seoul shares gain 1.4 pct on shipyards, banks
Economic fears causes Japan machinery order drop
PAKISTAN
S.Korea mortgage growth up; mkts brace for rate move
Srebrenica survivors' long wait to bury their dead
Japan current account surplus first drop in months
Lindsay Lohan's career not over yet
S.Korea household mortgage loans jump in June
Soweto TV, so close yet so far from W.Cup final
S.Korea says foreign ship orders recover from slump
Czech film revisits communist secrets
S.Korean exporters more upbeat on H2 -survey
"Hot in Cleveland" renewed for second season
S.Korea T-bond futures down, wary of rate decision
Grammys change rules following Lady Gaga snub
Turner painting sells for record 29.7 million pounds
"American Idol" joins list of shortened summer tours
Don Johnson prevails in "Nash Bridges" lawsuit
Grammys change rules following Lady Gaga snub
|
Lindsay Lohan's career not over yet
|
Don Johnson prevails in Nash Bridges lawsuit
|
iCarly's Miranda Cosgrove, anything but Despicable
|
American Idol joins list of shortened summer tours
|
Hot in Cleveland renewed for second season
|
Czech film revisits communist secrets
|
Betty White, James Cameron join California Hall of Fame
|
Swiss solar plane makes history with 26hr flight
Three Britons found guilty in suicide bomb plot
|
Three linked to Al-Qaeda held: Norway police
ECB key rate remains same amid bank concerns
Facebook deal creates virtual 'credits'
Norway arrests 3 al Qaeda-linked suspects over plot
|
News
General strikes hit Greece and Portugal
Afghanistan graft sharply up as insurgency grows too
|
Thousands demonstrate as new strike cripples Greece
Sri Lanka minister launches hunger strike over U.N. probe
|
Special Report: In Irish schools, Catholic Church remains master
|
Iraq Shi'ite pilgrims trudge on as bombs continue
|
Vatican set to revise rules on sexual abuse
|
Kyrgyzstan requests $500 mln to rebuild ruined south
|
Russian conductor facing sex charges leaves Thailand
Floods in northwest China kill 25
News
Malaysian Islamic courts appoint first women judges
Shanghai residents say forced out for Disneyland
U.S. aims to detect cyber infrastructure attacks: report
|
News
Facebook deal means virtual 'credits' can be bought in shops
N.Korea warns against UN censure
S.Lankan minister on hunger strike over UN probe
China lashes out at 'vulgar' online game ads
Pakistan's forex reserves jump to record $16.77 bln
Asian markets lifted on Wall Street's lead
Football, silent film style, comforts German fans
Pakistani rupee at record low vs dollar; stocks up
Lady Gaga gets nostalgic at NY homecoming
S.Korea currency curbs to take effect Fri-govt official
News
India car sales rise 30.8% in June
Why do studios keep losing lawsuits?
PREVIEW-Pakistan's June CPI seen up 12.60 percent
Bollywood's Bachchan back as 'Millionaire' host
China buys record amount of Japan bonds in May
Bollywood tackles Maoist rebels
S.Korea S-Oil restarts RFCC after planned maintenance
Luanda eyes future, neglects architectural past
Geely expects to close Volvo deal in third quarter
China: western regions' growth is key to stability
Fresh faces add zest to Emmy nominations
|
Lady Gaga gets nostalgic at NY homecoming
|
Prince seeks pied a terre in France
|
Why do studios keep losing lawsuits?
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights