Emil, I saw your plane on the news tonight! Apparently you guys broke a record
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Emil, I saw your plane on the news tonight! Apparently you guys broke a record
of some sort, 96,000 feet or something like that for that kind of plane? The report said that it's a kind of plane they want to use to possibly fly over Mars? Very cool. Congrats and be sure to tell us about it if only to correct where I completely botched the facts!
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Here's his site.... Seriously good achievement!
From yesterday's San Jose Mercury:
The Helios Prototype, driven by 14 propellers turned by small 2-horsepower electric motors, reached 96,500 feet before NASA officials decided to bring it down. NASA officials have said the Helios is capable of reaching 103,000 feet under ideal weather conditions, three times higher than commercial jet-powered aircraft.
Because the craft gets its electricity from 65,000 solar cells covering the wing, the takeoff required full sunshine. Cloud cover over western Kauai had canceled two weekend takeoff attempts. Its 247-foot wingspan is greater than that of a Boeing 747, and it weighs just 1,557 pounds, less than many cars. (half the weight of our TT's - lol)
Official website: <a href="http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Projects/Erast/helios.html" target="_new">Helios</a>
The Helios Prototype, driven by 14 propellers turned by small 2-horsepower electric motors, reached 96,500 feet before NASA officials decided to bring it down. NASA officials have said the Helios is capable of reaching 103,000 feet under ideal weather conditions, three times higher than commercial jet-powered aircraft.
Because the craft gets its electricity from 65,000 solar cells covering the wing, the takeoff required full sunshine. Cloud cover over western Kauai had canceled two weekend takeoff attempts. Its 247-foot wingspan is greater than that of a Boeing 747, and it weighs just 1,557 pounds, less than many cars. (half the weight of our TT's - lol)
Official website: <a href="http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Projects/Erast/helios.html" target="_new">Helios</a>
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Sorry for the late reply Anne. Here is another web site that's maintained by the Kauai Com. College
students. It has the basic timeline for the flight. See...
http://216.117.138.36/heliosiponlycom/
Also see the official NASA pres release here...
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/PAO/PressReleases/2001/01-58.html
and a few pictures here...
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/Helios/index.html
http://216.117.138.36/heliosiponlycom/
Also see the official NASA pres release here...
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/PAO/PressReleases/2001/01-58.html
and a few pictures here...
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/Helios/index.html
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