BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

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Skystef
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BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by Skystef »

As the weather seems favorable with a windspeed of 5kt or less, a provisory green light has given to accept the Solar Impulse.
Of course to be confirmed but if it comes, eta is 2100 local.

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galaxy
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by galaxy »

The week is slipping by, so here is the latest news on the first international Solar Impulse flight to Brussels. Many of you have asked why we haven’t taken off yet despite the fine weather. Unfortunately it’s not quite as simple as that!

First of all, the flight will take about twelve hours, and we need to have good weather over the whole route.
Why twelve hours? If you have done your calculations, knowing the plane’s speed and the distance between Payerne and Brussels, you have surely come to the conclusion that the flight should take less than half that time. If that is the case, then you haven’t taken account of the restrictions imposed by ATC!

Zaventem Airport in Brussels is actually a very large hub, and you just cannot land any time you want. So we’ve been given a landing slot at a relatively quiet time (around 21:00 LT). The departure time from Payerne has been set for the morning, because that is the time of day when the weather conditions are best. Also, we are not in a hurry: we are still in a learning phase with this prototype, so we are not going to take any risks.

Air traffic in the centre of Europe is one of the busiest in the world. It is no small matter to thread your way through it. So we have prepared a flight plan taking account of the ATC restrictions (maximum altitude, no-go areas, etc…) and during the flight, the air traffic controllers operate in real time to control the separation between aircraft.

Normally, every flight plan specifies one or more alternative airports, in case the plane has a problem or if the airport suddenly becomes unusable. Unfortunately we can’t do that at the moment because our case is rather special: the Solar Impulse airplane needs to be under cover and every airport does not necessary have a hangar available. We are in the process of developing a mobile hangar with one of our partners, but it won’t be ready for the European flights.

All of that to tell you that this first attempt at an international flight is no small matter and needs quite a lot of coordination. Unfortunately a fine blue sky is just not enough to allow us to take off! The entire team is working relentlessly to prepare for this flight, but our priority remains safety, so we are waiting until all the conditions are right before we launch.
http://www.solarimpulse.com/blog/blog.p ... roup=media

samuel70
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Joined: 12 May 2011, 12:24

Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by samuel70 »

Hi,

Anyone knows a nice spot around the airport so that I can take pictures of the Solar Impulse before/at landing ?
Hopefully it will land before dark.

Cheers,
Sam

T4J
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by T4J »

Does anybody have an idea where the Solar impulse will be stored overnight?

Thanx

hvs89
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by hvs89 »

I guess she will land using RWY25R ?

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Skystef
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by Skystef »

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed, that on Friday the 13th, the plane will come to BRU.
Currently the hour of arrival is In discussion. To attract the first VIPs it would be best if the plane lands somewhere in the afternoon.
Preferable final track is over Brussels city, then vectoring for approach on 07L. Final descision depends on the winddirection.
If it comes in afternoon, 07L could be possible (but with tailwind component of 05kt and gust exeeding 07kt). If in evening after 2000 local, the windshift to the NNW would make it rather difficult and rwy 02 will be optioned.

Latest details to be monitored on their website

hvs89
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by hvs89 »

The Solar Impulse successfully took off and is on its way to BRU !
You can follow her on the website, with all informations (ground & air speed, coordinates, altitude, heading, engine power, battery load,...) : http://www.solarimpulse.com/

DeltaWiskey
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by DeltaWiskey »

Is it ADS-B equipped?

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sn26567
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by sn26567 »

Solar Impulse just entered French air space. First time out of Switzerland. It has truly become its first international flight now.
André
ex Sabena #26567

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luchtzak
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by luchtzak »

hvs89 wrote:The Solar Impulse successfully took off and is on its way to BRU !
You can follow her on the website, with all informations (ground & air speed, coordinates, altitude, heading, engine power, battery load,...) : http://www.solarimpulse.com/
Thanks for sharing this link, it's most interesting! All aircraft stats are available, very cool !

SpottairBRU
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by SpottairBRU »

So guys, the usual question for such an event, besides which ETA and Runway: who will be at BRU this evening? :mrgreen:

Personnally, I should be there around 19h (hoping they don't land before!)

Are some luchtzakkers some of the 25 lucky ones being invited by BRU on Facebook to attend the arrival ceremony?
Fabien
Flown: AA5 / A300-310-318-319-320-321-330-340-380 / ATR42 / B717-737-747-757-777 / Bae146 / C130H / CRJ700-900 / Dash8-Q400 / E145-195 / Fokker 50 / HS748 / MD81 / RJ85-100 / Robin DR400

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sn26567
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by sn26567 »

I'll be there tonight.
luchtzak wrote:All aircraft stats are available, very cool !
Unfortunately the direct link to these stats seems to be broken: they have not changed since one hour.
André
ex Sabena #26567

samuel70
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by samuel70 »

SpottairBRU wrote:So guys, the usual question for such an event, besides which ETA and Runway: who will be at BRU this evening?
I'll be there ;) .
Unless they land in the dark :cry:.

ps: Note, I'm new to this. I registered to get some info on this flight so that I hopefully can stand at the right spot and take some pictures.

hvs89
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by hvs89 »

According to a comment on the livechat :
"After landing the plane goes to the hangar 117 wich is on the right side of the 25r"


samuel70
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by samuel70 »

By the way, I'm working at Eurocontrol. Trying to grab some info, but not much for now.

SpottairBRU
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by SpottairBRU »

samuel70 wrote:By the way, I'm working at Eurocontrol. Trying to grab some info, but not much for now.
Thanks Samuel... and by the way, welcome to Luchtzak! :)
Fabien
Flown: AA5 / A300-310-318-319-320-321-330-340-380 / ATR42 / B717-737-747-757-777 / Bae146 / C130H / CRJ700-900 / Dash8-Q400 / E145-195 / Fokker 50 / HS748 / MD81 / RJ85-100 / Robin DR400

samuel70
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by samuel70 »

Maybe you all know the place, but just in case here's a link to some detailed info on plane spotting sites around BRU.
http://users.skynet.be/spotterfreak/brulocations.html

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sn26567
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by sn26567 »

Video of the take-off:

André
ex Sabena #26567

Anarki
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Re: BRU 13/05/2011 Solar Impulse

Post by Anarki »

Any idea about the flight plan ?

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