According to the U.S. “Connection” magazine reported that the Swiss by Eric Raymond plans to drive a solar-powered aircraft across Europe, and hoped to prove so “solar-powered aircraft” is not an oxymoron, but a viable air travel.
It is absolutely beyond imagination
Raymond’s solar-powered aircraft known as “chasing rizhe II,” will be staged over 6 countries in Europe, eight journey, driving through Europe manned solar-powered aircraft was the first time in history. It is reported that this aircraft, and environment-friendly aircraft by the Solar Flight’s development, aims to tap the power planes in the air travel of the potential, the efficiency of its design may also allow the aircraft benefit from the use of fossil fuels.
Zhezhi the Swiss member of the group Eric Lentz-Gauthier In an interview with “Connection” magazine Web site (Wired.com) an interview, said: “If we can encourage people to re-examine the transport and mode of travel – help them to envisage cleaner, destructive while bringing joy to experience a lower mode of transport – we have it opens the door to success. ”
“Chase rizhe II,” main science, progress and the green card, in the air, it is capable of “quiet” word do? With lyteze – Gotia as saying that “those who pursue Japanese II,” the performance of It is absolutely beyond imagination. He said: “In the quiet take-off and climb to several thousand feet of altitude, flight stabilize and begin to slow down. With the sun behind him, your attention is only focused on the voltage meter on the eyes see the figure was only up, not down. At this moment, everything is in your hands. It is played with a brand-new aircraft between the game, it will change everything. ”
Some people say never, do you, but sitting in a sport-747 cells and photovoltaic Ikegami. While the battery weight and size of small aircraft is still almost all the constraints, but the electric aircraft has been in the past on the road. Similar Pipistrel and Electric Aircraft such as start-up companies have developed a viable electric aircraft; Boeing is also able to test hydrogen fuel cell for aircraft; a joint venture company called Solar Impulse is scheduled later in 2009 tested a solar-powered aircraft.
Two-speed options
Solar Flight staff said that they developed “chasing rizhe II,” and similar aircraft to how to maximize efficiency and minimize the weight to bring some enlightenment to those of fossil fuels inspiration will allow the aircraft to become cleaner and greener. In addition, they also encourage people to consider a new way forward.
“Chase rizhe II,” weighs only 292 pounds (about 132 kilograms) – full load under the weight of 506 pounds (about 229 kilograms) – roughly equivalent to an ordinary motorcycle. Its fuselage length 23 feet (about 7 meters), a wingspan of 17 feet (about 5 meters). Wing is equipped with four lithium-polymer battery, takeoff and climb is responsible for an 8-horsepower engine. Once you reach about 3,000 feet (914 meters) and cruising altitude, “DAY II, who” will use solar energy to maintain altitude. While the battery storage capacity in just 15 minutes will be depleted, but Raymond said that the battery charge time only 30 to 45 minutes.
“Chase rizhe II,” by means of solar energy can reach 40 miles per hour (about 64 km per hour), by means of lithium polymer batteries can double the speed, the speed enough to make drivers feel the fun of flying. Compared with the conventional aircraft, the more slowly, thus allowing the driver to open canopy. Raymond said: “You’ll love the feeling of open canopy. At this moment, there is no need to see through the plastic, you can feel the wind blowing in the ear.”
Air Show as the focus of
Since the first flight since 2002, “DAY II, who” has been staged 60 times more than the flight time to reach the one-hour air journey. Solar Flight company said this achievement than any other solar-powered aircraft. “Chasing Japanese who II,” is “chasing Japanese who I,” the improved version, which is single-handedly designed by Raymond in 1989, the first intimate contact with the blue sky. In 1990, Raymond driving “chasing Japanese who I,” reached 16,000 feet (about 4876 meters) in altitude. It is reported that the air journey across the United States is divided into 21 stations, the flight time to reach 121 hours.
Raymond said: ” ‘DAY by I,’ very limited power system, you must be able to find and use rising air currents. In most flight time, it is merely an ultra-light glider, that shut down the engine and the thruster. “In contrast, driving” chasing rizhe II, “is a completely different experience – the plane last week in Germany at the Friedrichshafen exhibition become the focus of general aviation. “Chase rizhe II,” will be held on the 6th start flying trip to Europe during which he will in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, France and Spain docked. If all goes according to plan, it will be Solar Flight Following 1990′s “who-I catch on,” the 21 stations across the United States the longest trip air travel since the trip.
Be improved in many aspects
And “chasing Japanese who I,” compared to “chase rizhe II,” in many ways be improved, including more efficient tail design, a complete set of navigation and glide complementary equipment and lithium polymer batteries to replace nickel – cadmium batteries. A larger wing meant that solar cells have a greater surface area. This time, the solar cells installed in the wing, rather than inside the top of the result is: good weather, the aircraft can fly has been relying on solar energy. In addition, the “chase rizhe II,” but also the engine size of more than “chasing Japanese who I,” horsepower from 2.5 to upgrade to 8.
Raymond said: “I prefer to use lithium batteries to climb to altitude, such as 10,000 feet (about 3048 meters), followed by the use of solar energy to maintain level flight, often in the clouds above. In the air temperature is low enough height, e and engine cooling equipment in good condition. At this time the sun is very ample and bright, the air is more stable, I need only to cruise. ‘to recover rizhe II,’ the whole power system more robust, I can rest assured that the use of the entire flight process , as is an open one, like an ordinary plane. ”
Learn from experiences of their predecessors to improve the efficiency of the aircraft
Most of the work from the perspective of Raymond Gunther Rochelt the late inspiration, which designs and manufactures a pedal plane Musculair 1, and in 1984 broke the aircraft speed record of human, then to reach 22 miles per hour (about 35 per hour km). Luo Chete of Musculair 1 in terms of speed and efficiency, to Raymond’s performance left a deep impression in the under the guidance of his predecessors, he determined to take all possible measures to improve the efficiency of the aircraft – all experiences are integrated into “chasing rizhe No. II. ”
Raymond said: “This aircraft is an integral part of each can be responsible for their own things to optimize, that is, the structure and aerodynamics.” Raymond and lyteze – Gotia admit, electric aircraft the popularity of devices still have a long way to go, but they believe the door has been opened. Lyteze – Gotia, said: “At present, the market has emerged several pure electric glider took off on their own. I believe the future will have more similar products off the assembly line.”
Europe, solar-powered aircraft