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Saturday 25 February 2012

Airborne wind power


A new type of wind-powered generator for aircraft has been developed by boffins attached to the Department of Energy and Climate Change. As the aircraft moves through the air, these wing-mounted turbines will generate enough electricity to power the aircraft's main kettle. Free hot drinks all round. 

Another first for the government's green technology policies!

6 comments:

RMcGeddon said...

Sounds good. They could use solar panels to power the turbines while on the ground and so allow the Herc to take off :)
The Phantom fighter ( and probably other types) has the RAT ( ram air turbine) which is a small turbine that's used when there's an electrical failure in flight. It powers the essential instruments for basic navigation etc. It is deployed into the air stream using hydraulics

A K Haart said...

RM - the RAT is a new one on me but it sound like a good idea. I assume electrical failures on Phantoms are not common.

RMcGeddon said...

AK. Electrical failures in Phantoms were quite common. It could land ok with it's main bus bars down.
In Vietnam it had lots of failures but managed to to limp home ok.
There are some great stories of Nam tomb aircrew and their unorthodox methods of survival. But I'll keep them to myself ;)

A K Haart said...

RM - So you are a Nam veteran?

RMcGeddon said...

AK. nah not that old - yet.
But I love reading about the Vietnam war and some of the stories from the aircrew were fascinating. Like the pilots who allegedly ejected their navigator when a heat seeking missile was homing in on them. The missile would chase after the poor navigator as his seat rockets fired him into oblivion. They allegedly brought in autonomous ejection for front and back seat to fix that 'problem'.
I'll try and find the name of the books for you.

A K Haart said...

RM - thanks, drop me an email about the books if you'd prefer.

I'm old enough the remember Vietnam, yet I've never read any books on it to try and put it all into some kind of context.