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Solar-powered plane aims to fly around the world

December 2, 2012 4:42 PM

Powered entirely by the sun, the plane is the first of its kind to fly at night. The goal? A 20-day, 20-night trip around the world. Bob Simon reports.

Solar-powered plane aims to fly around the world
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by PSOPO March 6, 2013 10:48 AM EST
This was the most boring story yet.
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by asergiwa December 11, 2012 8:56 AM EST
I would love to know that hypnosis trick... lol
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by 2whou December 6, 2012 11:47 PM EST
As for the Ultiamte Power, yes it is the SON, the only way out of this War Zone http://truth-revealed.name DEMONSTRABLE UNDENIABLE TRUTH Delivered in another Airplane made of Paper!
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by Harry-Knut December 6, 2012 5:48 PM EST
This should lead to exciting new products like solar powered dildos that also work at night!
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by pscalahan December 4, 2012 4:52 PM EST
Actually, the first transatlantic flight was made in May 1919 by the NC-4 and her crew of 5, flying from New Yotk to Lisbon, Portugal.
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by aubfmet December 4, 2012 10:14 AM EST
1 man flies for 20 days? There must be a lot of auto pilot involved.
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by Ulgnud December 4, 2012 12:40 AM EST
I hope they make the dream come true. Then couple this idea with a truly efficient solar panel (Which I hope is developed soon) and there could be some interesting changes.
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by sfchar53 December 3, 2012 7:38 PM EST
Spaceranger4 was absolutely correct - Lindbergh was NOT the first to cross the Atlantic, not by a long shot. Capt John Alcock and Lt Arthur Whitten Brown made the first nonstop transatlantic flight in June of 1919, from Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland (now in Northern Ireland). At least seven other nonstop flights were made between 1919 and 1927, when Lindbergh made the flight from New York to Paris, winning the Orteig Prize in the process. It might have been the first solo flight, but flying solo was never a stipulation of the prize. For that matter, Simon was also incorrect in stating that the Wright brothers were the first to fly. Otto and Gustav Lilienthal, Sir George Cayley, and others, made flights in gliders long before Orville and Wilbur showed up. The Wrights are officially credited with making the first powered, controlled flight in a heavier-than-air machine, but even that is debatable. Alberto Santos-Dumont made the first flight in a powered, heavier-than-air machine that was able to become airborne under its own power; the Wrights had to launch theirs down a hill, or with a catapult. Their aircraft were little more than powered gliders.
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by newtongenius December 3, 2012 5:56 PM EST
I don't get it. The thing flies because it doesn't weigh anything. So how will they ever build one to carry anything? Why not go the other way in history back to the days of the great airships that could carry a lot? With today's materials they can be built not to burn, or catch fire or tear apart in high winds. They could be built even larger than the old dirigibles and their huge bodies covered in solar cells. Is it just me ?
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by jamie047 December 3, 2012 5:48 PM EST
Whatever.
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