Aquila is airborne. If this is not magic, what is?
I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for Africa at FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised. It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered airplane that can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able to circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity down from an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, so it can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the wingspan of an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts — the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave. See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI Regards ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh
Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about this ;) Cheers, Tony On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for Africa at FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised.
It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered airplane that can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able to circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity down from an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, so it can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the wingspan of an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts — the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave.
See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI
Regards ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh
-- Tony White
60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners. Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km. On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about this ;)
Cheers, Tony
On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for Africa at FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised.
It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered airplane that can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able to circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity down from an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, so it can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the wingspan of an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts — the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave.
See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI
Regards ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh
-- Tony White
_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
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This will more than change the world...giving access to information to everyone in the world will practically change the way we live.. Imagine the transformation it gives to a small scale farmer seeking information on how to improve their crop.. The opportunity for young entrepreneurs providing resource centers to locals...knowledge will truly belong to the world... I hope the impact of Aquila happens in my lifetime... Exciting stuff On Jul 22, 2016 11:43, "Haggai Nyang via skunkworks" < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners.
Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km.
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about this ;)
Cheers, Tony
On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for Africa at FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised.
It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered airplane that can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able to circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity down from an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, so it can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the wingspan of an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts — the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave.
See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI
Regards ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh
-- Tony White
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Availing Aquila to the 'hardest-to-reach' is one, them having the right & compatible gadgets for Aquila signal is another. I view it as an adv for those travelling from urban to 'hardest-to-reach' areas. All in all, it will be a + for vision 2040.
On Jul 22, 2016, at 12:03 PM, francis irungu via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
This will more than change the world...giving access to information to everyone in the world will practically change the way we live.. Imagine the transformation it gives to a small scale farmer seeking information on how to improve their crop.. The opportunity for young entrepreneurs providing resource centers to locals...knowledge will truly belong to the world... I hope the impact of Aquila happens in my lifetime... Exciting stuff
On Jul 22, 2016 11:43, "Haggai Nyang via skunkworks" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote: 60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners.
Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km.
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote: Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about this ;)
Cheers, Tony
On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for Africa at FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised.
It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered airplane that can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able to circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity down from an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, so it can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the wingspan of an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts — the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave.
See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI
Regards ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh
-- Tony White
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skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
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I agree that 60,000 feet asl is above the normal air lanes, but I see that it is driven by 4 propellers, and the air is pretty thin up there - I have doubts they will manage to achieve that altitude. Also, there is the weather phenomenon known as the 'jetstream' - which would sweep a lightweight airframe hundreds of kilometres off-station. Nice idea. Lots of publicity value. I don't see it happening anytime soon :( Cheers, Tony On 22/07/2016, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners.
Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km.
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about this ;)
Cheers, Tony
On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for Africa at FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised.
It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered airplane that can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able to circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity down from an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, so it can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the wingspan of an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts — the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave.
See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI
Regards ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh
-- Tony White
_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Tony White
Many apologies!!! - I should do research before opening my stupid mouth ;) It seems the current record for propeller driven aircraft, solar-electric aircraft, and highest altitude in horizontal flight by a winged aircraft is 96,863 ft (29,524 m), set by NASA Helios HP01 on August 14th, 2001 Oops ;) Tony On 22/07/2016, Tony White <tony.mzungu@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree that 60,000 feet asl is above the normal air lanes, but I see that it is driven by 4 propellers, and the air is pretty thin up there - I have doubts they will manage to achieve that altitude. Also, there is the weather phenomenon known as the 'jetstream' - which would sweep a lightweight airframe hundreds of kilometres off-station.
Nice idea. Lots of publicity value. I don't see it happening anytime soon :(
Cheers, Tony
On 22/07/2016, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners.
Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km.
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about this ;)
Cheers, Tony
On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for Africa at FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised.
It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered airplane that can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able to circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity down from an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, so it can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the wingspan of an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts — the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave.
See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI
Regards ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh
-- Tony White
_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Tony White
-- Tony White
They should be as high as possible, not to be shot down when they cross into 'expensive internet for everyone' regimes:) Looking at the price of internet with the many undersea cables in country X, is it possible for a tax hungry gov X to allow such? Is it possible to drive policy towards free reliable internet connection? *_______________________________________________________________We must Keep on, We can't stop here * On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 2:38 PM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Many apologies!!! - I should do research before opening my stupid mouth ;)
It seems the current record for propeller driven aircraft, solar-electric aircraft, and highest altitude in horizontal flight by a winged aircraft is 96,863 ft (29,524 m), set by NASA Helios HP01 on August 14th, 2001
Oops ;)
Tony
On 22/07/2016, Tony White <tony.mzungu@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree that 60,000 feet asl is above the normal air lanes, but I see that it is driven by 4 propellers, and the air is pretty thin up there - I have doubts they will manage to achieve that altitude. Also, there is the weather phenomenon known as the 'jetstream' - which would sweep a lightweight airframe hundreds of kilometres off-station.
Nice idea. Lots of publicity value. I don't see it happening anytime soon :(
Cheers, Tony
On 22/07/2016, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners.
Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km.
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about this ;)
Cheers, Tony
On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for Africa at FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised.
It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered airplane that can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able to circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity down from an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, so it can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the wingspan of an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts — the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave.
See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI
Regards ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh
-- Tony White
_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Tony White
-- Tony White
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Interesting stuff, anything is possible with coordination from key players, Civil Aviation Authorities and Operators of the Internetcraft :-) Regards On 7/22/16, joe mwirigi via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
They should be as high as possible, not to be shot down when they cross into 'expensive internet for everyone' regimes:)
Looking at the price of internet with the many undersea cables in country X, is it possible for a tax hungry gov X to allow such?
Is it possible to drive policy towards free reliable internet connection?
*_______________________________________________________________We must Keep on, We can't stop here *
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 2:38 PM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Many apologies!!! - I should do research before opening my stupid mouth ;)
It seems the current record for propeller driven aircraft, solar-electric aircraft, and highest altitude in horizontal flight by a winged aircraft is 96,863 ft (29,524 m), set by NASA Helios HP01 on August 14th, 2001
Oops ;)
Tony
On 22/07/2016, Tony White <tony.mzungu@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree that 60,000 feet asl is above the normal air lanes, but I see that it is driven by 4 propellers, and the air is pretty thin up there - I have doubts they will manage to achieve that altitude. Also, there is the weather phenomenon known as the 'jetstream' - which would sweep a lightweight airframe hundreds of kilometres off-station.
Nice idea. Lots of publicity value. I don't see it happening anytime soon :(
Cheers, Tony
On 22/07/2016, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners.
Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km.
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about this ;)
Cheers, Tony
On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for Africa at FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised.
It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered airplane that can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able to circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity down from an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, so it can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the wingspan of an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts — the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave.
See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI
Regards ______________________ Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya twitter.com/lordmwesh
-- Tony White
_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Tony White
-- Tony White
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-- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
I agree @Barack, and this is pretty awesome stuff by fb *_______________________________________________________________We must Keep on, We can't stop here * On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 7:32 PM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote:
Interesting stuff, anything is possible with coordination from key players, Civil Aviation Authorities and Operators of the Internetcraft :-)
Regards
On 7/22/16, joe mwirigi via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
They should be as high as possible, not to be shot down when they cross into 'expensive internet for everyone' regimes:)
Looking at the price of internet with the many undersea cables in country X, is it possible for a tax hungry gov X to allow such?
Is it possible to drive policy towards free reliable internet connection?
*_______________________________________________________________We must Keep on, We can't stop here *
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 2:38 PM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Many apologies!!! - I should do research before opening my stupid mouth ;)
It seems the current record for propeller driven aircraft, solar-electric aircraft, and highest altitude in horizontal flight by a winged aircraft is 96,863 ft (29,524 m), set by NASA Helios HP01 on August 14th, 2001
Oops ;)
Tony
On 22/07/2016, Tony White <tony.mzungu@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree that 60,000 feet asl is above the normal air lanes, but I see that it is driven by 4 propellers, and the air is pretty thin up there - I have doubts they will manage to achieve that altitude. Also, there is the weather phenomenon known as the 'jetstream' - which would sweep a lightweight airframe hundreds of kilometres off-station.
Nice idea. Lots of publicity value. I don't see it happening anytime soon :(
Cheers, Tony
On 22/07/2016, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners.
Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km.
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about this ;)
Cheers, Tony
On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote: > I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for > Africa at > FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised. > > It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered > airplane that > can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people > in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able > to > circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity > down from > an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and > millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, > so > it > can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the > wingspan of > an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts > — > the > same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave. > > See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI > > Regards > ______________________ > Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya > twitter.com/lordmwesh >
-- Tony White
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-- Tony White
-- Tony White
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-- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
I wouldn't be surprised when various government agencies fall over themselves seeking to "license" this implementation... On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 9:04 PM, joe mwirigi via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
I agree @Barack, and this is pretty awesome stuff by fb
*_______________________________________________________________We must Keep on, We can't stop here *
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 7:32 PM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote:
Interesting stuff, anything is possible with coordination from key players, Civil Aviation Authorities and Operators of the Internetcraft :-)
Regards
On 7/22/16, joe mwirigi via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
They should be as high as possible, not to be shot down when they cross into 'expensive internet for everyone' regimes:)
Looking at the price of internet with the many undersea cables in country X, is it possible for a tax hungry gov X to allow such?
Is it possible to drive policy towards free reliable internet connection?
*_______________________________________________________________We must Keep on, We can't stop here *
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 2:38 PM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Many apologies!!! - I should do research before opening my stupid mouth ;)
It seems the current record for propeller driven aircraft, solar-electric aircraft, and highest altitude in horizontal flight by a winged aircraft is 96,863 ft (29,524 m), set by NASA Helios HP01 on August 14th, 2001
Oops ;)
Tony
On 22/07/2016, Tony White <tony.mzungu@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree that 60,000 feet asl is above the normal air lanes, but I see that it is driven by 4 propellers, and the air is pretty thin up there - I have doubts they will manage to achieve that altitude. Also, there is the weather phenomenon known as the 'jetstream' - which would sweep a lightweight airframe hundreds of kilometres off-station.
Nice idea. Lots of publicity value. I don't see it happening anytime soon :(
Cheers, Tony
On 22/07/2016, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners.
Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km.
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
> Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A > quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about > 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about > 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about > this ;) > > Cheers, > Tony > > > On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> > wrote: > > I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for > > Africa > at > > FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised. > > > > It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered > > airplane > that > > can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of > people > > in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able > > to > > circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity > > down > from > > an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and > > millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, > > so > > it > > can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the > > wingspan > of > > an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts > > — > > the > > same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave. > > > > See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI > > > > Regards > > ______________________ > > Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya > > twitter.com/lordmwesh > > > > > -- > Tony White > > _______________________________________________ > skunkworks mailing list > skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke > ------------ > List info, subscribe/unsubscribe > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > ------------ > > Skunkworks Rules > http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 > ------------ > Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Tony White
-- Tony White
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Possibly fly high as you can, the US doesn't ask for the shuttle to fly over countries as it comes to land, just because of sheer altitude. Problem is, it is not internationally defined where a country's sovereign airspace ends and outer space begins. Things like GPS satellites get away with the technicality but then again they "fly" at 66M ft msl On 22 July 2016 at 20:32, Barrack Otieno via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Interesting stuff, anything is possible with coordination from key players, Civil Aviation Authorities and Operators of the Internetcraft :-)
Regards
On 7/22/16, joe mwirigi via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
They should be as high as possible, not to be shot down when they cross into 'expensive internet for everyone' regimes:)
Looking at the price of internet with the many undersea cables in country X, is it possible for a tax hungry gov X to allow such?
Is it possible to drive policy towards free reliable internet connection?
*_______________________________________________________________We must Keep on, We can't stop here *
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 2:38 PM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Many apologies!!! - I should do research before opening my stupid mouth ;)
It seems the current record for propeller driven aircraft, solar-electric aircraft, and highest altitude in horizontal flight by a winged aircraft is 96,863 ft (29,524 m), set by NASA Helios HP01 on August 14th, 2001
Oops ;)
Tony
On 22/07/2016, Tony White <tony.mzungu@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree that 60,000 feet asl is above the normal air lanes, but I see that it is driven by 4 propellers, and the air is pretty thin up there - I have doubts they will manage to achieve that altitude. Also, there is the weather phenomenon known as the 'jetstream' - which would sweep a lightweight airframe hundreds of kilometres off-station.
Nice idea. Lots of publicity value. I don't see it happening anytime soon :(
Cheers, Tony
On 22/07/2016, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners.
Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km.
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have about 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of about 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about this ;)
Cheers, Tony
On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote: > I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy for > Africa at > FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised. > > It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered > airplane that > can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of people > in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be able > to > circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity > down from > an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and > millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper efficient, > so > it > can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the > wingspan of > an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts > — > the > same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave. > > See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI > > Regards > ______________________ > Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya > twitter.com/lordmwesh >
-- Tony White
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-- Tony White
-- Tony White
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-- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
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ᐧ
The 'accepted' boundary is 150km asl (approx. 500,000 feet), although there is no international law yet in place. Also, 100km asl is a nominal boundary for 'space' - if you manage to get to that height, by whatever means, then you can call yourself an 'astronaut' ;) Cheers, Tony On 25/07/2016, Jangita via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Possibly fly high as you can, the US doesn't ask for the shuttle to fly over countries as it comes to land, just because of sheer altitude. Problem is, it is not internationally defined where a country's sovereign airspace ends and outer space begins. Things like GPS satellites get away with the technicality but then again they "fly" at 66M ft msl
On 22 July 2016 at 20:32, Barrack Otieno via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Interesting stuff, anything is possible with coordination from key players, Civil Aviation Authorities and Operators of the Internetcraft :-)
Regards
On 7/22/16, joe mwirigi via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
They should be as high as possible, not to be shot down when they cross into 'expensive internet for everyone' regimes:)
Looking at the price of internet with the many undersea cables in country X, is it possible for a tax hungry gov X to allow such?
Is it possible to drive policy towards free reliable internet connection?
*_______________________________________________________________We must Keep on, We can't stop here *
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 2:38 PM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
Many apologies!!! - I should do research before opening my stupid mouth ;)
It seems the current record for propeller driven aircraft, solar-electric aircraft, and highest altitude in horizontal flight by a winged aircraft is 96,863 ft (29,524 m), set by NASA Helios HP01 on August 14th, 2001
Oops ;)
Tony
On 22/07/2016, Tony White <tony.mzungu@gmail.com> wrote:
I agree that 60,000 feet asl is above the normal air lanes, but I see that it is driven by 4 propellers, and the air is pretty thin up there - I have doubts they will manage to achieve that altitude. Also, there is the weather phenomenon known as the 'jetstream' - which would sweep a lightweight airframe hundreds of kilometres off-station.
Nice idea. Lots of publicity value. I don't see it happening anytime soon :(
Cheers, Tony
On 22/07/2016, Haggai Nyang <haggai.nyang@gmail.com> wrote:
60,000 feet is more than the service ceiling of most commercial airliners.
Boeing 777 for example has a service ceiling of about 43,000ft ~ 13km.
On Fri, Jul 22, 2016 at 6:23 AM, Tony White via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> wrote:
> Will they not become a hazard for commercial airliners? A > quick-and-dirty calculation for Kenya shows that we would have > about > 120 of these buzzing around overhead, each covering an area of > about > 5000 square kilometres. I wonder what KCAA will have to say about > this ;) > > Cheers, > Tony > > > On 21/07/2016, Mwendwa Kivuva via skunkworks < skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> > wrote: > > I would want to hear what Ms Ebele, the Head of Public Policy > > for > > Africa > at > > FB, has to say on plans for the marginalised. > > > > It's beautiful, and audacious too. Aquila is a solar-powered > > airplane > that > > can be used to bring affordable internet to hundreds of millions of > people > > in the hardest-to-reach places. When complete, Aquila will be > > able > > to > > circle a region up to 60 miles in diameter, beaming connectivity > > down > from > > an altitude of more than 60,000 feet using laser communications and > > millimeter wave systems. Aquila is designed to be hyper > > efficient, > > so > > it > > can fly for up to three months at a time. The aircraft has the > > wingspan > of > > an airliner, but at cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts > > — > > the > > same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave. > > > > See the Youtube video: https://youtu.be/eOez_Hk80TI > > > > Regards > > ______________________ > > Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya > > twitter.com/lordmwesh > > > > > -- > Tony White > > _______________________________________________ > skunkworks mailing list > skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke > ------------ > List info, subscribe/unsubscribe > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > ------------ > > Skunkworks Rules > http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 > ------------ > Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- Tony White
-- Tony White
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-- Barrack O. Otieno +254721325277 +254733206359 Skype: barrack.otieno PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
_______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------
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ᐧ
-- Tony White
participants (9)
-
Barrack Otieno -
francis irungu -
Haggai Nyang -
Jangita -
joe mwirigi -
Maisiba Bravo -
Mwendwa Kivuva -
Peter Karunyu -
Tony White