Solar Impulse completes 24-hour flight

Watch footage of the flight Link to this video

An experimental solar-powered plane landed safely today after completing its first 24-hour test flight, proving that the aircraft can collect enough energy from the sun during the day to stay aloft all night.

Pilot André Borschberg eased the Solar Impulse aircraft on to the runway at Payerne airfield, about 31 miles south-west of the Swiss capital, Berne, at 9am local time today.

Helpers rushed to stabilise the pioneering plane as it touched down, ensuring that its massive 63-metre wingspan didn't touch the ground and topple the craft.

The record feat completes seven years of planning and brings the Swiss-led project one step closer to its ultimate aim of circling the globe using only energy from the sun.

The team says it has now shown the single-seat plane can theoretically stay in the air indefinitely, recharging its depleted batteries using 12,000 solar cells and nothing but the rays of the sun during the day.

Borschberg took off from Payerne airfield into the clear blue sky shortly before 7am yesterday, allowing the plane to soak up plenty of sunshine and fly in gentle loops over the Jura mountains, west of the Swiss Alps.

The 57-year-old former Swiss fighter pilot dodged low-level turbulence and thermal winds, endured freezing conditions during the night and ended the test flight with a picture-perfect landing to cheers and whoops from hundreds of supporters on the ground.

After completing final tests on the plane he embraced project co-founder Bertrand Piccard before gingerly unstrapping himself from the bathtub size cockpit where he had spent more than 26 hours sitting.

"When you took off it was another era," said Piccard, himself a record-breaking balloonist. "You land in a new era where people understand that with renewable energy you can do impossible things."

Although the goal is to show that emissions-free air travel is possible, the team has said it doesn't see solar technology replacing conventional jet propulsion any time soon. Instead, the project is designed to test and promote new energy-efficient technologies.

Solar Impulse aircraft flies, briefly (photos)

Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse completes first full test flight, nears another frontier (video)

We've tracked this solar-powered tub from its announcement last year, through its first runway tests, past the little hop that counted as its first flight, and now we've arrived at the HB-SIA's first legitimate test flight. The Solar Impulse, brainchild of one Bertrand Piccard, took the upward plunge into the skies yesterday, successfully rising to 5,500 feet and a speed of 30 knots before gliding down gently and calling the whole thing an unqualified success. You can find video of the event after the break. A nighttime test flight is planned for later this year, after which a bulkier production model will be cobbled together with the intent of reaching the final goal of circumnavigating the globe by 2012.

BBC sourceSolar Impulse 25 Leave A Comment Facebook Digg Google Buzz Twitter airplane, bertrand piccard, BertrandPiccard, circumnavigation, eco-friendly, environmentally friendly, EnvironmentallyFriendly, flight, hb-sia, picard, plane, renewable energy, RenewableEnergy, solar airplane, solar energy, solar flight, solar impulse, solar plane, solar power, solar powered, solar-powered, SolarAirplane, SolarEnergy, SolarFlight, SolarImpulse, SolarPlane, SolarPower, SolarPowered, switzerland, test flight, TestFlight, video

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In addition to the many categories of Primetime Emmy Awards presented to programs and individuals for production and performance excellence, some very prestigious special honors, such as the Governors Award, are bestowed during the Primetime Emmys.

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A peaceful Europe – the beginnings of cooperation

The European Union is set up with the aim of ending the frequent and bloody wars between neighbours, which culminated in the Second World War. As of 1950, the European Coal and Steel Community begins to unite European countries economically and politically in order to secure lasting peace. The six founders are Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The 1950s are dominated by a cold war between east and west. Protests in Hungary against the Communist regime are put down by Soviet tanks in 1956; while the following year, 1957, the Soviet Union takes the lead in the space race, when it launches the first man-made space satellite, Sputnik 1. Also in 1957, the Treaty of Rome creates the European Economic Community (EEC), or ‘Common Market’.

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The changing face of Europe - the fall of the Berlin Wall

The Polish trade union, Solidarność, and its leader Lech Walesa, become household names across Europe and the world following the Gdansk shipyard strikes in the summer of 1980. In 1981, Greece becomes the 10th member of the EU and Spain and Portugal follow five years later. In 1987 the Single European Act is signed. This is a treaty which provides the basis for a vast six-year programme aimed at sorting out the problems with the free-flow of trade across EU borders and thus creates the ‘Single Market’. There is major political upheaval when, on 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall is pulled down and the border between East and West Germany is opened for the first time in 28 years, this leads to the reunification of Germany when both East and West Germany are united in October 1990.

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The ‘Swinging Sixties’ – a period of economic growth

The 1960s sees the emergence of 'youth culture’, with groups such as The Beatles attracting huge crowds of teenage fans wherever they appear, helping to stimulate a cultural revolution and widening the generation gap. It is a good period for the economy, helped by the fact that EU countries stop charging custom duties when they trade with each other. They also agree joint control over food production, so that everybody now has enough to eat - and soon there is even surplus agricultural produce. May 1968 becomes famous for student riots in Paris, and many changes in society and behaviour become associated with the so-called ‘68 generation’.

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Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the European Union on 1 January 1973, raising the number of member states to nine. The short, yet brutal, Arab-Israeli war of October 1973 result in an energy crisis and economic problems in Europe. The last right-wing dictatorships in Europe come to an end with the overthrow of the Salazar regime in Portugal in 1974 and the death of General Franco of Spain in 1975. The EU regional policy starts to transfer huge sums to create jobs and infrastructure in poorer areas. The European Parliament increases its influence in EU affairs and in 1979 all citizens can, for the first time, elect their members directly.

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With the collapse of communism across central and eastern Europe, Europeans become closer neighbours. In 1993 the Single Market is completed with the the 'four freedoms' of: movement of goods, services, people and money. The 1990s is also the decade of two treaties, the ‘Maastricht’ Treaty on European Union in 1993 and the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1999. People are concerned about how to protect the environment and also how Europeans can act together when it comes to security and defence matters. In 1995 the EU gains three more new members, Austria, Finland and Sweden. A small village in Luxembourg gives its name to the ‘Schengen’ agreements that gradually allow people to travel without having their passports checked at the borders. Millions of young people study in other countries with EU support. Communication is made easier as more and more people start using mobile phones and the internet.

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A decade of further expansion

The euro is the new currency for many Europeans. 11 September 2001 becomes synonymous with the 'War on Terror' after hijacked airliners are flown into buildings in New York and Washington. EU countries begin to work much more closely together to fight crime. The political divisions between east and west Europe are finally declared healed when no fewer than 10 new countries join the EU in 2004. Many people think that it is time for Europe to have a constitution but what sort of constitution is by no means easy to agree, so the debate on the future of Europe rages on.

Consolation prize for Germany, Uruguay

Football | FIFA World Cup^TM

Joachim Loew © Action Images

Consolation prize for Germany, Uruguay
08/07/2010, 11:36

Two-time winners Uruguay and three-time champions Germany will clash on Saturday in a match that neither side wanted to be contesting - the play-off to decide third place.

Both coaches, Oscar Tabarez of Uruguay and Germany's Joachim Loew will have a job on their hands to rouse their players for one last effort after losing their semifinals to the Netherlands and Spain respectively.

The Uruguayans have an advantage in that they will have had an extra day to absorb their disappointment and 63-year-old Tabarez is known to be a shrewd motivator of men.

He has already been firm in his resolve, following the 3-2 defeat by the Dutch, that they will put aside the loss and aim to finish third, going one better than their performance in 1970.

"To use a term that is common in the team -- we have to bury this match and get over our sorrow," said Tabarez, in his second spell in charge, having guided Uruguay to the last 16 in 1990.

"We must give a good image like the one we delivered against the Netherlands on the pitch, to show people in football that Uruguay wants to play at an equal level with others.

"We want to show that this is a team with pride, despite our limitations, and this third-place play-off match is important for this reason."

He will definitely have Ajax hitman Luis Suarez back after he served his one match suspension for being sent off for punching the ball off the line in the quarterfinal against Ghana.

That will counter-balance the possibility of inspirational strike partner Diego Forlan missing the match through injury.

The 31-year-old Atletico Madrid star -- scorer of four goals in the finals -- carried the unspecified injury throughout the loss to the Dutch but Tabarez is confident he can play some sort of role in the match.

Unlike the South Americans, Germany will feel third or fourth place is a poor consolation for the chance of a fourth title.

The out-of-contract Loew, though, will want his side to bow out of this tournament on a high, not least because it could be his last match in charge of a team that he has effectively shaped.

"The players are devastated but I would still like to congratulate them on the way they played throughout the tournament," said Loew following the Spanish reverse.

"We have to try and wake them up tomorrow (Thursday) because we still have another match -- the third place play-off against Uruguay -- to play."

For one German player too there remains the possibility of leaving his permanent mark on the World Cup.

Miroslav Klose, who is unlikely to be part of the next squad in 2014 when he will be 36, needs two goals against Uruguay to pass Brazil's Ronaldo as the all-time World Cup leading goalscorer. He has already bagged 14 in three World Cups.

German team will be back for more, but will Loew?

DURBAN, South Africa — Germany's young players will be older, more experienced and quite possibly better by the time of the next World Cup. Whether coach Joachim Loew will be there to guide them is uncertain.

Loew has remained silent on his future after contract extension negotiations with the German soccer federation broke down. A decision is expected soon after the World Cup ends Sunday.

The coach says the group he picked — a multicultural team playing with flair and skill — has a bright future no matter who is leading it. Germany reached the semifinals for the third straight tournament and can finish third, just as it did four years ago at home.

"This team will remain together," Loew said after Wednesday's 1-0 semifinal loss to Spain. "This team has very good players and many possibilities. No matter who is in charge, it will stay together. The team's development is not at its end, it has just began.

"We wanted to achieve a lot and we are disappointed not to have gone through to the final. But I must give my players compliments how they played at this tournament. We gave everything. We gave our best."

Loew's team will now play Uruguay in Saturday's third-place match in Port Elizabeth, with the coach saying his team wants to end the tournament in style. The Germans could be without striker Miroslav Klose, who has a back injury.

The game also could be Loew's last in charge. The 50-year-old coach fell out with the federation in February over several issues, including pay and staffing decisions.

Federation president Theo Zwanziger has said he would like Loew to stay and the players also have backed him.

"We need a good coach and he's a very good coach," captain Philipp Lahm said. "But it's not our decision."

Lahm said the team was disappointed by the semifinal loss to Spain, the team that also beat Germany 1-0 in the 2008 European Championship final. That was Loew's first major tournament in charge.

"But we played a very good tournament here. We have a lot of quality and we'll work more to be able to play for the title again," Lahm said. "It's good that I have a few more years ahead of me. We have the chance to mix it up with the top teams for years to come."

Germany arrived in South Africa with its second-youngest World Cup team ever and unsure of its true potential. A 4-1 victory over England in the second round and then 4-0 over Argentina raised hopes of the country's fourth World Cup title.

But Germany ran into a very polished Spain team performing at its best and had its shortcomings exposed.

"We can learn from this game," Loew assistant Hansi Flick said Thursday. "These young players can develop further and we can work to achieve a higher technical level. There is a lot of potential in this group and a great team spirit.

"We can play very good football and our attack was world-class."

Germany faces another tricky decision. Michael Ballack, its longtime captain and leader, missed the World Cup with an ankle injury. He wants to return — but Lahm wants to keep the captaincy.

"I spoke honestly. When it's fun you want to continue and I am having fun. It's not a power struggle, the power is with the coach. I have no problem whatsoever if Ballack comes back and wants the captaincy. It's not my job to say who gets it," Lahm said.

"I am not going to give him back my armband voluntarily but I have no problem if the coach gives it back to him."

Germany will be flying home Sunday and, unlike four years ago when the team showed up at a stage in Berlin to be celebrated by tens of thousands of home fans, there will be no party this time.

"We wanted more than third place," Lahm said. "We felt it wouldn't be appropriate to have a party."