viernes, 2 de diciembre de 2011

ELHASPA Electric High Altitude Solar Powered Aircraft makes first flight

ELHASPA Electric High Altitude Solar Powered Aircraft makes first flight:

Germany's DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics flew its unmanned solar-powered ELHAS...

There's no doubt that satellites have become an essential part of our daily lives, making things like communications, navigation, weather forecasting, and remote imaging all possible. Unfortunately, the orbiting objects can be very expensive, both to build and to launch into outer space. For some of the functions that they carry out, however, an actual satellite isn't required - a high altitude, long endurance (HALE) aircraft could also get the job done, and at a much lower cost. Some such aircraft have been powered by conventional fuel, batteries, and hydrogen. On November 13th, though, the Electric High Altitude Solar Powered Aircraft (ELHASPA) joined the ranks of HALE aircraft to fly using nothing but the power of the Sun.
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Pipstrel ALPHA cuts the cost of flight training

Pipstrel ALPHA cuts the cost of flight training:

Pipistrel is releasing the ALPHA in 2012 at an intro price of EUR59,000

European ultralight aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel has taken note of the ever increasing prices being quoted for entry-level Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) and has done something about it. Enter the ALPHA Trainer. Its 34-foot 6-inch wingspan, reliable Rotax 4-cylinder, 4-stroke engine and rugged landing gear makes it suitable for flight training, and its 108 knot (200 km/h) cruising speed is right up there with most of the fast boys...
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