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Friday June 6, 2008
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Clearly, Boeing Research and its partner, Technology Europe, deserve some respect for sending the world's first fuel-cell powered plane on its maiden flight recently in Spain. But while the Dimona Fuel Cell Plane managed a respectable height of 3,300 feet on its first 20 minute trip, its speed topped out at a not-too-exciting 62 MPH.
Baby steps, I know. But clearly this tech has a long way to go before it makes its way into any of Boeing's commercial aircrafts. Lets hope the people working on fuel-cell laptops are a little bit further along. Oh, and if your plane happens to pull up alongside the Dimona Fuel Cell Plane, be sure and tell the pilot switch to off the turn signal. It's been on since Heathrow.
[Via Intelligent Energy]
Posted By:
Matt Safford
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June 7, 2008 4:24 PM
::giggle:: I see this selling to a few eco-friendly wealthy people, but you're right - it'll be a while before we see the tech in larger aircraft. Even so, yay for incrimental technological progress! Maybe one day we'll look back at fuel-cell powered aircraft and see this little guy as the Spirit of St. Louis of its day?
June 8, 2008 6:38 AM
The breakthrough here is that this plane could also be powered with shore power byway of a laser beam. Take off and land on shore power. Delta would kill to get the jump on that.
July 15, 2008 8:06 PM
wanted solar balloon covered with cells and/or
400 feet X 400 feet wing producing 2kw or more