OT: Trans-Atlantic Model Airplane

Loser · #1 August 16th, 2003, 02:05 PM

Batteries would not return as much power for their weight as fuel would. Gasoline really is a wonderful fuel source: portable, easily obtained, efficient, relatively stable, and of a tolerable level of toxicity. It is not only fortunate that certain processes led to it's widespread abundance, it is essential for the industrial development of humanity.

GPS only returns 'facing' based on movement. Since the plane will not always move in the direction it's facing (wind), I suspect they also had a compass on there.

DavidG · #2 August 17th, 2003, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gryphin:

quote:
Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
The plane could have been powered by solar panels. Or just some batteries. Modern types of batteries have very long charge times now. Probably a combination of the two.

The artical describes the engine and fule. There is no mention of Solar Cells.

Yea. 5.5 pounds of fuel I believe.

TerranC · #3 August 17th, 2003, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
but still, no news press?

The Globe and Mail, a canada-wide newspaper, had it on 2nd page.

Anything to please the newfies.

And the fuel was Kerosene I believe. And after it's trip from Newfoundland to Ireland, it still had enough to fly for about 4 more hours, I think.

geoschmo · #4 August 17th, 2003, 04:11 PM

National Georghapic.com covered it. I also saw it on CNN the other day before this thread started, btu I haven't been able to find the link again looking for it.

dogscoff · #5 August 18th, 2003, 05:55 PM

Quote:

yes, they do. including a big drone that runs of solar power that could cross an ocean. saw a documentary on nova.

I don't know if it's the same thing, but I saw an article about these giant unmanned planes that were designed to stay aloft at very high altitudes on an indefinite basis! They were really flimsy and lightweight looking, with a huge wingspan and loads of really big propellors. They props were driven by solar power from panels covering the wings.

They were conceived as a cheap alternative to orbital satellites for things like weather monitoring, recon, and all those other things they use satellites for. Cool idea.

EDIT: As for controlling the transatlantic effort, you could
(a) fly a normal aircraft alongside it and use a normal controller from there.
(b) program it to follow a signal from a transmitter attached to a trained bird or something

[ August 18, 2003, 16:59: Message edited by: dogscoff ]

DavidG · #6 August 18th, 2003, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by geoschmo:
National Georghapic.com covered it. I also saw it on CNN the other day before this thread started, btu I haven't been able to find the link again looking for it.

\ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...satlantic.html

This article seems to explains it best. I think the plane was programed to follow a certain path and the guy in Ireland just waited for it to show up and then took control.

Also although Drones may have crosed the Ocean it seems some Model Airplane association (or something like that) has pretty specific rules for what they consider a model.

[ August 18, 2003, 17:54: Message edited by: DavidG ]