ソーラーインパルス Solar Impulse。祝！　テスト機により約1時間半のファーストフライト: しなやかな技術研究会

2010/04/13

ソーラーインパルス Solar Impulse。祝！　テスト機により約1時間半のファーストフライト

　2012年に世界一周を目指すソーラーインパルス Solar Impulseは、4月7日に試作機（Solar Impulse HB-SIA）によるテスト飛行をスイスのPayerneで行い、約１時間半のテスト飛行を成功させました。テスト機は、2012年で使われる実機とほぼ同じ大きさでカーボンファイバーの機体の重さは約1.6tで、全長21.85m、翼長63.4m。両翼に取り付けられた12000枚の太陽電池とモーターなどのセッティングも確認されたようです。周到な準備期間を経て発表された、地道なプロジェクトの進行と今回の成功を一ファンとしてともに喜びたいと素直に思います。

Solar Impulse - First Flight Helio Cam Special

(SolarImpulseChannel,2010年04月11日版が削除されたので— 2010年04月25日 — Extended Versionに変更)

関連
・YouTube : SolarImpulseChannel

・solarimpulse.com : PICTURES

プレスリリース / Solar Impulse,07.04.2010
・Successful Maiden flight for SolarImpulse!

" This morning at 10:27, the Solar Impulse HB-SIA took off from Payerne (VD) airfield on its maiden flight.
Under the eyes of thousands of spectators from all over Switzerland, Solar Impulse HB-SIA slowly climbed up to 1200 meters. The next 87 minutes Solar Impulse test pilot Markus Scherdel spent familiarizing himself with the prototype’s flight behaviour and performing the initial flight exercises before making the first landing on the Vaudois tarmac. The execution of these various manoeuvres (turns, simulating the approach phase) was designed to get a feel for the aircraft and verify its controllability.

“This first flight was for me a very intense moment!” exclaimed Solar Impulse test pilot Markus Scherdel, still under the emotion of the event, on stepping down from the aircraft. “The HB-SIA behaved just as the flight simulator told us! Despite its immense size and feather weight, the aircraft’s controllability matches our expectations!”

“This first mission was the most risky phase of the entire project. 1h27 of intense emotion after 7 years of research, testing and perseverance. Never has an airplane as large and light ever flown before! The aim was to verify the prototype’s behaviour in flight and to test its reaction to various manoeuvres. The success of this first flight allows us to envisage the further program with greater serenity!” said a delighted Andre Borschberg, CEO and co-founder of the project.

“We still have a long way to go until the night flights and an even longer way before flying round the world, but today, thanks to the extraordinary work of an entire team, an essential step towards achieving our vision has been taken”, adds Solar Impulse Chairman and initiator Bertrand Piccard. “Our future depends on our ability to convert rapidly to the use of renewable energies. Solar Impulse is intended to demonstrate what can be done already today by using these energies and applying new technologies that can save natural resources.”
......... "

・「ソーラー飛行機」、スイス上空を1時間半舞う-----ロイター、2010年 04月 8日

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Solar Impulse - Save Landing by bazonline.ch

(SolarImpulseChannel,2010年04月07日)