Solar Impulse (solar powered plane) to stop in Phoenix

[Jeff D. Welker]

I still don't get the purpose of this thing.  Demonstrating something that had already been demonstrated in the early 1980s? 

It is my understanding that the Solar Impulse group is waiting to race another alternative energy aircraft on the next leg of their flight. Apparently, shortly before his death in 2002 Thor Heyerdahl had designed an airplane made entirely of balsa wood and cannabis. He called the design Bong-Tiki and was seeking financial backing when he suddenly died of a brain tumor. With the recent legalization of marijuana, Thor's son (Chong Heyerdahl) was able to secure a grant from MMIG out of Colorado to build the unique aircraft. In a recent news release from their headquarters at Bob Marley International Airport in Jamaica, Chong Heyerdahl expressed optimism that the plane would be airworthy very soon; however, he really didn't care.

Well, that's what I heard...

[BillOz]

I still don't get the purpose of this thing.  Demonstrating something that had already been demonstrated in the early 1980s? 

They aren't really so much demonstrating that an airplane can fly on solar energy, though they are the first to be able to fly more than 24 hrs. on solar energy power alone (through solar charged batteries at night). 

The real goal is to push solar energy, so simply they are a huge advertising campaign.  They are breaking some records here and there along the way. 

[Matt Ottosen]

"The primary purpose is not to revolutionize aviation, but the way in which people think about energy and clean technologies.  If Solar Impulse technologies were used on a massive scale, the world would be able to save up to 50% of the current consumption of fossil energy."

This is what it said in the media packet.

[Tower Guy]

Jeff, I really like your understanding of this issue.