Quite a good idea here....(Harnessing the power of jet streams for energy)

[Aviation Pro]

I know they've probably thought about this already, but if impemented, the FEGs would have to be repositioned based on the position of the two jet streams during different times of the year. Other than that, I think this is a splendid idea if they can get around the technology challenges and the airspace issues.

Full article here: http://aero-news.net/

Company Developing Method To Generate Electricity Using Power Of Jet Streams
Sun, 02 Sep '07
Device Uses Helicopter Technology To Utilize High Altitude Winds

What do a World War II code-cracker and an Australian engineering professor have in common? A mutual desire to decrease dependence on fossil fuels and a love of turbines, for starters.

The two are developing a machine that is, essentially, a helicopter that functions as a wind turbine -- an FEG (Flying Electric Generator).



Conceived by Australian engineering specialist Professor Bryan Roberts in 1979, the device is being developed by San Diego-based SkyWindPower, headed up by David Shepard, who started his career cracking Japanese military codes during WWII, according to CNN.

Shepard had been studying the power-producing potential of high altitude winds for some 20 years when he heard about Roberts' "gyromill" prototype. They combined their efforts in 2002 and the FEG was born.

The theory is a turbine at a high altitude has the ability to generate more power than one on the ground. They work on the principle that wind speed and constancy are much better around the Sub-Tropical Jet stream and the Polar Front Jet stream than at ground level.

-snip-

The electricity is then transported to the ground through a tethering cable made of aluminum.

The unit will keep its horizontal and vertical position constant by way of Global Positioning System technology.

Each unit would cost around $2,260,000 to build, but that also includes maintenance and support, according to CNN. They would generate electricity at about two cents per kilowatt hour while conventional methods cost three to five cents per kilowatt hour.

Like anything airborne, there are inherent risks involved. Collisions could occur should aircraft enter FEG airspace unknowingly or illegally; perhaps even more worrisome, one could malfunction and drop.

"Inevitably crashes will occur," admits SkyWindPower on its web site. "Just as airplane crashes occur. Statistically, however, FEGs should be just as reliable as commercial airliners, whose safety records are incredibly good.

"And FEGs don't take off or land at airports teeming with people in and around them," the company adds.

[soothsayer]

1. cool

[Uben]

2. why not the gulf stream

Looks like they could put turbines in the gulf current and generate from that. Little,if any, petroleum needed!Maybe this could eliminate the need for so many dams that are damaging eco-systems downstream. We certainly have the technology to do it. we have several energy sources available to us that are infinite, ie. jet stream, gulf stream, electro-magnetic field, wave power, wind power, geo-thermal, solar, and probably many more I cannot think of. So, why all the petroleum-based energy usage?

[Aviation Pro]

3. Probably....

...because of weather patterns at the surface and the effects of salt corrosion. However, I'm sure they're working on that too.

[kestrel91316]

5. Also, there's the possibility that the Gulf Stream may cease to flow

if the climate changes too much. Thermohaline gradients and such, you know.......

I wouldn't want to rely on it.

[papau]

4. A 16,000 to 22,000 foot long tethering cable made of aluminum for each device? n/t

n/t

[Aviation Pro]

6. Check this out....

That's the tethered balloon that is launched periodically in the lower Keys. The note reads that it is tethered up to 14,000' MSL so yes it's feasible. Also, the Polar Jet is usually found at about 33,000' while the Sub-tropical is between 39,000' 43,000'.

[papau]

7. the tethered balloon "FAT ALBERT" accident killing 3 is interesting

NTSB Identification: MIA07FA083
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, April 20, 2007 in Cudjoe Key, FL
Aircraft: Cessna 182Q, registration: N422G
Injuries: 3 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On April 20, 2007, about 2313 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N422G, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in Cudjoe Key, Florida. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight to Leesburg, Florida. The private-rated pilot and two passengers received fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated in Key West, Florida, the same night, about 2300.

According to information received from officials with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, two witnesses who were on shore at the boat ramp at the end of Blimp Road, in Cudjoe Key, said they saw the accident airplane impact the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) aerostat cable. According to the witnesses, when the airplane impacted the aerostat cable, the left wing went "flying off", and the remainder of the airplane went tumbling into the water near a group of islands. about 1/4 mile from where they were located.

In response to notification of the accident having occurred elements to include Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the Florida Highway Patrol, and U.S Coast Guard responded. The accident airplane was located in the vicinity of Cudjoe Key, in Kemp Channel on the bay side, in about 3 to 4 feet of water.

According to information obtained from Naval Air Station Key West, the accident airplane departed from Key West International Airport on runway 27, then turned to a easterly heading, and was last seen on radar as it merged with the aerostat. At the time of the accident, the airplane had been in radio communications contact with FAA Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), and according to an official at Miami ARTCC, the pilot had been informed of the restricted area at Cudjoe Key.

The aerostat, whose tether the airplane impacted at Cudjoe Key was being operating normally, and was on station as published. The TARS flight director on duty stated that the aerostat had a cable payout of 8,000 feet, was on a pitch of 9.2 degrees, and had a tension of 2.4K pounds tether force. According the flight director’s log, the log entry directly preceding the accident showed no irregularities. At 2315, the flight director logged " an airplane may have crashed off the north pad into the channel", and at 2328, the log showed that the flight director initiated cable retraction at a rate of 25 feet per minute. During the course of the retraction it was discovered that the tether had incurred damage at its 4,533-ft cable payout level.

A video record from the camera mounted on the TARS flight control building, which monitors the aerostat while aloft, showed the aerostat's position lights, and at 2312:55, the video record showed the position lights of the accident airplane as it approached the tether. The video record showed the airplane's left wing striking the tether, and the airplane entering a spin, and descending seemingly uncontrolled, departing the camera's field of view.

[Aviation Pro]

8. Interesting for a number of reasons....

...the aircraft should have been on V157, there should have been a NOTAM and they should have been under radar control (probably from ZMI ARTCC). Either something went terrribly awry or they filed direct to Leesburg using OROCA altitudes.

Sad, anyway you look at it.

[WindRavenX]

9. but what about teh chemtrails??!?

jk ;)

Cool idea!