Groundfloor Energy

Before you read on, check out the great deals for Solar Power Airplane products below before they expire:

Watt's Up RC Watt Meter & Power Analyzer WU100 Version 2 --- SALE! $54.00 # Specifications: # Voltage 0-60 V, resolution 0.01 V. That's a 14 cell series li-poly pack! # Current 0-100 A peak, 50 A continuous, resolution 0.01 A # Charge 0-65 Ah, resolution 0.001 Ah. That's ~32 Amps for two hours! # Power 0-6500 W, resolution 0.1 W. That's ~8.7 Horsepower! # Energy 0-6500 Wh, resolution 0.1 Wh. # Operates from 4.0-60 V, 0 V with optional receiver battery pack # 16 x 2 STN...

Design Airplane Parachutes, Create Solar Power, Make Sunglasses $1.99 ...

GPK Car Charger for Apple Macbook Air $25.00 The GPK Auto Power Adapter enables you to power your Laptop Notebooks in your car. An energy-efficient power adapter, designed to draw minimal power. With integrated surge protector to guard against power fluctuations.If you want to use your computer in the car without using up the battery you can save energy and weight by using one of these high tech switch mode DC converters (car cords). They a...

CSL Robotikits 6-in-1 Solar Kit $2.99 Children use 21 snapping together parts to building six different desings. It's most advantageous because: it's very inexpensive for individuals or groups; clear easy to following instructions; motivating the children to learning about solar energy; a great project for boys or girls clubs; teaches students to follow precise visual diagrams; have hours of fun experimenting. For best results use o...

Solar Flier - Solar Powered Airplane Executive Desk Toy $26.99 Power of Sun In Action -- The perfect gift for any high flyer, this solar powered airplane features high-tech solar cells built into the wings. When sun or bright light shines, the solar cells create power to rotate the propeller, which allows the plane to fly around the base. Made from polished aluminum, the plane is an attractive desk adornment. No batteries are required....

Fascinations Solar Flier $17.95 The Solar Flier is a dynamic executive toy. This solar powered aeroplane definitely makes a statement on any high flyer's desk. Made from polished aluminum with high-tech solar cells built into the wings. When sun shines on the solar cells they create the power to rotate the propeller enabling the plane to fly around the base. Product Dimensions: 15 x 15 x 7.5 Recommended Ages: 14 years & ...

BatteryMINDer Battery Charger / Maintainer with Desulphator - 12 Volt 2/4/8 Amp, Model# 12248 $108.55 The BatteryMINDER is an ideal choice for handling 12 Volt battery charging requirements. The 3-stage smart microprocessor-controlled BatteryMINDer has a built-in desulfator that automatically dissolves harmful power-robbing, life-shortening sulphation using safe high-frequency sweep pulse technology. Safely charges any size/type or brand of 12V lead-acid battery, including wet, dry-sealed gel, A...

Goal Zero 19002 Silver/Black Small Sherpa 50 Explorer Kit $308.38 This lightweight portable solar charging system is equivalent to 30,000 AA batteries. Sherpa 50 Power Pack provides 50 watt-hour of power. This runs your cellphone, lights, or laptop - all at the same time if you want. This kit is small enough to fit in any backpack for use on a hike, hunting trip, or airplane. It can be chained with a Sherpa UI (Universal Inverter) or additional Sherpa Power Pack...

Light flights: solar planes are taking off in search of a fuel-free flight.(PHYSICAL: SOLAR POWER)(Zephyr-6): An article from: Science World $9.95 This digital document is an article from Science World, published by Scholastic, Inc. on December 8, 2008. The length of the article is 2024 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Light flights: solar planes are taking off...

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Solar Power: The Future of Flying?

With concerns about a finite supply of fossil fuels and the environmental impacts of gas guzzling jets driving them forward, researchers are working on airplanes that will remove the carbon footprint involved with flying. Designed to operate using solar power, these machines may just be the wave of the future. 

Those who think solar-powered planes are a pipe dream need to think again. There are operational prototypes already in use. There are also other prototypes under development. Although they are far from perfected, these machines are proving there is an alternative worthy of exploration. 

While it might be some time before commercial jets trade in their gasoline for solar panels, the technology is moving ahead. Examples of the prototypes out there include: 

       HELIOS – This solar-powered plane was created as part of NASA’s ERAST program. Developed in conjunction with AeroVironment of California, the plane had its maiden flight in 2001. Although HELIOS was slow moving, slower than a bicycle, in fact, it did show promise. The plane reached a height of more than 30,000 meters and was operational using a remote control. HELIOS was the outgrowth of other NASA-backed projects for fuel efficient planes. In 1979, the Goassamer Albatross flew across the English Channel using human power and a DC battery pack. By 1998, the solar-powered Pathfinder took to the skies relying on the sun’s energy and multiple DC electric motors. NASA’s research into solar-powered flight is hoped to advance scientific studies into such things as volcanoes and weather. Exploration of Mars is also on the agenda. 

       The Solar Impulse – This $94-million machine is under development by Bertrand and Co. The plane will be flown by the world-famous Bertrand Piccard, who made a name for himself with an around-the-world balloon flight in 1999. The Impulse has a carbon-fiber body and weighs in at a light 3,300 pounds. Its plans were unveiled during the 2005 Paris Air Show. A test flight for the 201-foot plane is anticipated soon with a target transatlantic flight set for 2011. This plane has been designed to fly for up to 36 hours at an altitude of up to 27,000 feet. If successful, the Impulse would top other solar flyers as far as efficiency goes by quite a bit. Using batteries to store solar power, it would be able to fly during both day and nighttime hours. Currently, the best solar plane can only handle about eight hours of daytime flight. To make sure the Impulse project is successful; Piccard has brought in a team of roughly 150 designers to work out the kinks. 

 While solar-power planes are not ready to take over at airports around the world, this technology is moving ahead. Someday, it is possible the sun will provide all the power necessary for people to trek around the world at jet speeds.

About the Author

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Solar Electric Powered Flight

Watt's Up RC Watt Meter & Power Analyzer WU100 Version 2 --- SALE! $54.00 # Specifications: # Voltage 0-60 V, resolution 0.01 V. That's a 14 cell series li-poly pack! # Current 0-100 A peak, 50 A continuous, resolution 0.01 A # Charge 0-65 Ah, resolution 0.001 Ah. That's ~32 Amps for two hours! # Power 0-6500 W, resolution 0.1 W. That's ~8.7 Horsepower! # Energy 0-6500 Wh, resolution 0.1 Wh. # Operates from 4.0-60 V, 0 V with optional receiver battery pack # 16 x 2 STN...

Design Airplane Parachutes, Create Solar Power, Make Sunglasses $1.99 ...

GPK Car Charger for Apple Macbook Air $25.00 The GPK Auto Power Adapter enables you to power your Laptop Notebooks in your car. An energy-efficient power adapter, designed to draw minimal power. With integrated surge protector to guard against power fluctuations.If you want to use your computer in the car without using up the battery you can save energy and weight by using one of these high tech switch mode DC converters (car cords). They a...

CSL Robotikits 6-in-1 Solar Kit $2.99 Children use 21 snapping together parts to building six different desings. It's most advantageous because: it's very inexpensive for individuals or groups; clear easy to following instructions; motivating the children to learning about solar energy; a great project for boys or girls clubs; teaches students to follow precise visual diagrams; have hours of fun experimenting. For best results use o...

Solar Flier - Solar Powered Airplane Executive Desk Toy $26.99 Power of Sun In Action -- The perfect gift for any high flyer, this solar powered airplane features high-tech solar cells built into the wings. When sun or bright light shines, the solar cells create power to rotate the propeller, which allows the plane to fly around the base. Made from polished aluminum, the plane is an attractive desk adornment. No batteries are required....

Fascinations Solar Flier $17.95 The Solar Flier is a dynamic executive toy. This solar powered aeroplane definitely makes a statement on any high flyer's desk. Made from polished aluminum with high-tech solar cells built into the wings. When sun shines on the solar cells they create the power to rotate the propeller enabling the plane to fly around the base. Product Dimensions: 15 x 15 x 7.5 Recommended Ages: 14 years & ...

BatteryMINDer Battery Charger / Maintainer with Desulphator - 12 Volt 2/4/8 Amp, Model# 12248 $108.55 The BatteryMINDER is an ideal choice for handling 12 Volt battery charging requirements. The 3-stage smart microprocessor-controlled BatteryMINDer has a built-in desulfator that automatically dissolves harmful power-robbing, life-shortening sulphation using safe high-frequency sweep pulse technology. Safely charges any size/type or brand of 12V lead-acid battery, including wet, dry-sealed gel, A...

Goal Zero 19002 Silver/Black Small Sherpa 50 Explorer Kit $308.38 This lightweight portable solar charging system is equivalent to 30,000 AA batteries. Sherpa 50 Power Pack provides 50 watt-hour of power. This runs your cellphone, lights, or laptop - all at the same time if you want. This kit is small enough to fit in any backpack for use on a hike, hunting trip, or airplane. It can be chained with a Sherpa UI (Universal Inverter) or additional Sherpa Power Pack...

Light flights: solar planes are taking off in search of a fuel-free flight.(PHYSICAL: SOLAR POWER)(Zephyr-6): An article from: Science World $9.95 This digital document is an article from Science World, published by Scholastic, Inc. on December 8, 2008. The length of the article is 2024 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Light flights: solar planes are taking off...