<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for I prefer to fly]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by GreenEngineer http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/ Tue, 10 Apr 2007 09:14:43 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/1 solar flight

This is ubercool.  Sailplanes are definitely the "light footprint" version of personal recreational aviation, but they are traditionally dependent on a conventional tow-plane to get aloft.  This breaks that dependency.  Extra-tasty!

]]> solar flight

This is ubercool.  Sailplanes are definitely the "light footprint" version of personal recreational aviation, but they are traditionally dependent on a conventional tow-plane to get aloft.  This breaks that dependency.  Extra-tasty!

]]> Comment #2 by Biodiversivist http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/ Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:50:55 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/2 My bike would short out in the rain

until I found a way to seal everything. So far, so good. Throttle would go wide open all of a sudden.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> My bike would short out in the rain

until I found a way to seal everything. So far, so good. Throttle would go wide open all of a sudden.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> Comment #3 by caniscandida http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/ Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:09:46 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/3 way wrong

We want to see lots lots more of that dreamy cowboy kid narrator.  And if that old guy leaning back in his vehicle has a story to tell, well, perhaps that can be fit somehow into the more important stuff...

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

]]> way wrong

We want to see lots lots more of that dreamy cowboy kid narrator.  And if that old guy leaning back in his vehicle has a story to tell, well, perhaps that can be fit somehow into the more important stuff...

Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!

]]> Comment #4 by Glenn Pew http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/ Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:02:04 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/4 from the author

Thanks for posting my vid, Adam.
... And for the comments, all.

]]> from the author

Thanks for posting my vid, Adam.
... And for the comments, all.

]]> Comment #5 by GreenEngineer http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/ Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:44:55 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/5 short circuits

Throttle would go wide open all of a sudden.

Ouch. That can't be much fun. :)

]]> short circuits

Throttle would go wide open all of a sudden.

Ouch. That can't be much fun. :)

]]> Comment #6 by Biodiversivist http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/ Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:22:11 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/6 That's what

kill switches are for. Not sure I'd want to fly a sailplane that could catch on fire if it got wet.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> That's what

kill switches are for. Not sure I'd want to fly a sailplane that could catch on fire if it got wet.

In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

]]> Comment #7 by Junkk Male2 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/ Tue, 10 Apr 2007 18:34:54 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/7 Assault on Batteries

This is truly inspirational.

I (and, I suspect, a few others - http://junkk.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-friends-electric-dre ... ) have had certain concerns on the promotion of electric power as non-polluting.

When it is in this form, aside from the consequences of manufacture, it seems a rare beacon of solar-powered reality in transport. To get a craft charged up, aloft and to its destination with no power input other than the sun is awesome.

It seems viable battery capacity is the only restriction on realising his dream of a 2 or 4-seat version, which is where the practicalities of personal or indeed small-scale cargo (couriers?) transportation kick in.

Now all we need in the UK is the weather. Mind you, looking out the window, and with a certain sense of irony global-warming-wise, that may soon not be such a problem.

Do before you talk. Then share. If it's also fun and inspiring, people will want to read more. They may even be inspired follow your example.

]]> Assault on Batteries

This is truly inspirational.

I (and, I suspect, a few others - http://junkk.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-friends-electric-dre ... ) have had certain concerns on the promotion of electric power as non-polluting.

When it is in this form, aside from the consequences of manufacture, it seems a rare beacon of solar-powered reality in transport. To get a craft charged up, aloft and to its destination with no power input other than the sun is awesome.

It seems viable battery capacity is the only restriction on realising his dream of a 2 or 4-seat version, which is where the practicalities of personal or indeed small-scale cargo (couriers?) transportation kick in.

Now all we need in the UK is the weather. Mind you, looking out the window, and with a certain sense of irony global-warming-wise, that may soon not be such a problem.

Do before you talk. Then share. If it's also fun and inspiring, people will want to read more. They may even be inspired follow your example.

]]> Comment #8 by Laurence Aurbach http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/ Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:03:56 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/8 more info

Eric Raymond's Solar Flight site has photos and background information. The best source is this article from Aerospace Testing International: Page One, Page Two.

http://pedshed.net

]]> more info

Eric Raymond's Solar Flight site has photos and background information. The best source is this article from Aerospace Testing International: Page One, Page Two.

http://pedshed.net

]]> Comment #9 by amazingdrx http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/ Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:54:57 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/9 Plugin Hybrid Turbofan Aircraft

Look for solid oxide fuel cell/turbofan plugin hybrid airplanes real soon.

The thing is that getting into the air takes a lot of power, cruising not as much.  Given a few more generations of batteries their weight will approach the weight of liquid fuel, for the equivalent amount of energy.

A hybrid turbofan engine would cruise on battery power.  The takeoff would use liquid fuel through solid oxide fuel cells that would generate electricity directly to power the hybrid turbofan.

Then the very hot exhaust gases from the solid oxide fuel cell would provide additional power by expanding through the turbine in the turbofan engine.  This would yield very high efficiency, several times the efficiency of a normal turbofan aircraft engine.

When the aircraft got to cruising altitude the batteries, previously charged on the ground from renewable energy, would take over.  

Solar panels on the wings?  Still too heavy, but who knows?  

Maybe with an almost lighter than air helium filled silicon bubble aircraft that uses solar heat to climb then glides/flys to it's destination on direct solar electric power?  By designing solar concentrators into the structure, solar cells could be 1/10nth the size and weight and operate at 39% efficiency.  This efficiency with concentration has been proven at the National Renewable Energy Labratory.

A lighter than air foam made from helium filled silicon bubbles has already been developed too.  And this silicon compound is extremely strong.  

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

]]> Plugin Hybrid Turbofan Aircraft

Look for solid oxide fuel cell/turbofan plugin hybrid airplanes real soon.

The thing is that getting into the air takes a lot of power, cruising not as much.  Given a few more generations of batteries their weight will approach the weight of liquid fuel, for the equivalent amount of energy.

A hybrid turbofan engine would cruise on battery power.  The takeoff would use liquid fuel through solid oxide fuel cells that would generate electricity directly to power the hybrid turbofan.

Then the very hot exhaust gases from the solid oxide fuel cell would provide additional power by expanding through the turbine in the turbofan engine.  This would yield very high efficiency, several times the efficiency of a normal turbofan aircraft engine.

When the aircraft got to cruising altitude the batteries, previously charged on the ground from renewable energy, would take over.  

Solar panels on the wings?  Still too heavy, but who knows?  

Maybe with an almost lighter than air helium filled silicon bubble aircraft that uses solar heat to climb then glides/flys to it's destination on direct solar electric power?  By designing solar concentrators into the structure, solar cells could be 1/10nth the size and weight and operate at 39% efficiency.  This efficiency with concentration has been proven at the National Renewable Energy Labratory.

A lighter than air foam made from helium filled silicon bubbles has already been developed too.  And this silicon compound is extremely strong.  

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

]]> Comment #10 by amazingdrx http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/ Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:03:04 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/screw-plug-in-hybrid-cars/10 Way cool solar flyers

http://www.blazingwings.org/entry/top-12-solar-powered-ai ...

Maybe solar panels are light enough?  Still that 39%, 1/10nth the weight design would really rock!

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

]]> Way cool solar flyers

http://www.blazingwings.org/entry/top-12-solar-powered-ai ...

Maybe solar panels are light enough?  Still that 39%, 1/10nth the weight design would really rock!

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog

]]>