First Cross-country flight in the Sunseeker Duo - June 2014

June 2018 - We are celebrating the 4th anniversary of the first Cross-country flight in the Sunseeker Duo.
Leaving ones home airport for the first time is a big step into the unknown, one that we will never forget.
Having flown the same route, Voghera to Pavullo five years earlier in the single seat Sunseeker II made it less daunting, and the weather forecast was good. Leaving our home port, 100 miles seemed like a long way, but in the event we arrived with plenty of daylight left, so we explored the local mountains and even managed to rendezvous with a friend who was flying as an instructor in a two-seat glider out of Pavullo.
After spending the night, we found a strong wind in the morning for our return flight, but we had no problem getting home, even taking GoPro's Picture of the day on the way back.

[@ideoformsun5806]

Everybody is commenting on the excellent landings, but what !Really! impressed me, is that it can take off on its own with two adults inside. 🔆✈️🛫

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

Yes and would not much runway needed but it looks like the wingspan is a bit tricky... this is an old video already.... I want to look into these more

[@davidsotomayor8713]

Of course it can take off, the power of electric motors hasn't been an issue for quite a while. Actually storing that energy for extended use is the limiting factor.

[@mariosmiltiadous4580]

Yeah. When you travel it's usually 2 adults flying you to your destination..

[@chantereaudominique8855]

And the two adults pilot at the same time !

[@watcher4669]

Sepertinya untuk mempercepat akselerasi,dibantu oleh motor elektrik pada roda nya ,juga untuk keperluan bermanuver di darat😊

[@daveadams6421]

The best view without doubt is from the wing mounted camera 👍😀

[@TheTeknus]

even better in 360

[@KRIZINKGRIN]

Yea. ;-D

[@Sphincter0]

Worst lens distortion possible 👎

[@ram64man]

That or the camera man loves his job and volunteering to be counterweight on the wing

[@lostpockets2227]

Thx Dave

[@VOID_DEATH]

*This is how I always imagined having your own flying car would be like.*

[@thatguyalex2835]

Same here. :) Environmentally friendly, fast and clean. I'd pay to go up in a solar powered glider to go from my local airport to the Chicago one.

[@justme.9711]

You must have a hell of a driveway friend.

[@Diskaria]

Too dangerous of an idea and a threat to public safety, flying cars should never be a thing.

[@dasmejr6004]

@@Diskaria why are they a threat to public safety?

[@WebOSDevelops]

@@dasmejr6004think of the drunk drivers… 🛩️🏬💥

[@jamesengland7461]

World's most expensive selfie stick!

[@Z-J-]

“Motors nice and quiet” *BEEP BEEP BOOP BOOP BEEP BEEP*

[@jacobcooper1642]

WillyMcFly I’m sorry did he say it was ?

[@FurNaxxYT]

@WillyMcFly Wooosh

[@FurNaxxYT]

@WillyMcFly Yeah wouldn't want to get beaten down by the reddit warriors who coined the sound of a joke flying over the head.

[@modelistul]

That is variometer.

[@jrbailey3208]

@@modelistul That is annoying regardless of what you name it! At 1 minute 36 seconds into the video, the beat beat beating forced me to shut it down! The smug elitism of the two people in the cabin also put me off, I'm tired of New World Order Eco fascist elitists!

[@kirkm63]

That is one of the coolest Glider/motor Glider/airplanes​

[@bogdanpawowski3332]

Gliders must not have engines

[@yootz]

@@bogdanpawowski3332 gliders can have engine, it's just designed to fly long periods of time without those engines, so if the engine dies out, it doesn't matter.

[@illla]

@@bogdanpawowski3332 that is not glider, that is motorglider

[@user-zp4lh6wz2l]

@@bogdanpawowski3332 กห_

[@jeffcard3623]

It's a shame that it's one of a kind, the world needs more of these. Hopefully this is an adequate proof of concept allowing many more to be built.

[@franzferdinant8338]

pilot of a solar panel plane: "Look at these clouds! Wow!"

[@iceyberq]

@Rasta Xde yep it just looks like a glider with panels

[@gror7849]

Funny! hehe!! Famous last words? :)

[@kuicker5825]

@Rasta Xde i mean being able to take off from the ground on their own is a big deal for a gliders though, this seems awesome and i hope it keeps developing

[@johnbiggins4864]

It's a plane with large wingspan.......

[@MusikCassette]

@@gror7849 y that?

[@timmit3579]

I like this! No need for a towplane to get you off the ground;The propeller retracts to reduce drag; The whole wingtop is a solar panel to charge your batteries, power your instruments & landing gear- Wonderful!!

As a paraglider pilot I did enjoy so much this video. So similar techniques and sounds.

[@Mike-vs3dv]

Santos Martínez Definitely same sounds!

[@Poliglider]

Someday electric ppg will be affordable for the average pilot. I can see paraglider pilots switching to electric ppg like this. Also in a competition format.

[@stephaniekent8483]

hi from glider rider in New Zealand....wow the future has arrived love it!!

[@JamesManimal]

There was not a single boring shot and it moved right along! thanks nice!

[@weaponeer]

The best I have seen for electric Gliders. I have not flown a glider since I was a teen, but if I was rich rather than a disabled veteran, I would love to own one like this, to spend my time flying nearly every day and producing video content 5 days a week to push gliding and motor gliding to a new generation (as well as for search and rescue for lost hikers and children), just like others are doing the same in the US for Paramotor's and being highly successful in doing so (bringing new flyers buy the hundreds). I have been looking for a single seat Ultralight motor Glider to make it someone affordable for me.

[@juanmarcos1145]

Keep trying, go for it and good luck

[@Nightmare-kg7xd]

Thank you for your service by the way.

[@weaponeer]

@@Nightmare-kg7xd anytime... :)

[@Nightmare-kg7xd]

@@weaponeer :)

[@AB9_]

Night : I am going to end this man's whole career

[@commiedotstar4616]

AB9 underrated comment

[@AB9_]

@@commiedotstar4616 *Overrated

[@preyrarny]

Idk if this plane is the same type? But the batteries I’m fairly sure on at least solar powered planes can last throughout the night and on cloudy days

[@AB9_]

@@preyrarny it was a joke Einstein

[@_raymond418]

@@AB9_ no need to be rude.

[@dr.gudmundssonaircraftdesign]

Very inspiring and beautiful aircraft! Great video.

[@akbarshoed]

This is a real contribution. Thank you!

[@deborahchesser7375]

So peaceful and quiet with a great view I’d never want to come down

[@soetdjuret]

Except the constant beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep :D

[@SniperSnake50BMG]

Until you need to go to the bathroom.... Still must be awesome to fly in such sublime silence

[@SniperSnake50BMG]

@@soetdjuret you can turn it off. But a good pilot adapt to it. Is an important piece of equipment

[@iblesbosuok]

Lovely cute plane. Sun powered glider. Damn jealousy. Cheers from Indonesia

[@garrykennedy5484]

I love the side by side seating of this aircraft. Much like the A6? Or Icon A5. Too cool. best way to share a flight!!!!!!

[@A-A-RON918]

What an absolute dream and beautiful flying machine!

[@PiefacePete46]

Fabulous! :o) Thanks for the video.

[@miketracy5603]

I was cracking up when stretched out his back while the wife took over. Great footage by the way!

[@TriadAgone]

I look forward to a future where EGliding becomes the standard in the sport. Aerodynamically gliders are approaching the theoretical limits of performance, new construction technology and improved batteries I think we be the future in conpetition, and we will see faster speeds and bigger flights

[@MusikCassette]

you don't really improve your batteries. you charge them in flight.

[@TriadAgone]

@@MusikCassette no buy higher energy density would improve the performance and payloads of electric aircraft.

[@MusikCassette]

@@TriadAgone well electric batteries will be more than an oder of magnetude worse than kerosin. And that will be so for several decades to come. So no there is not really potential there. to find usage in electric planes you have to be a little more innovative than that.

[@TriadAgone]

@@MusikCassette it doesn't need to have better energy density than traditional fuels, it just needs to be viable enough that it can fulfill particular routes slightly cheaper than traditional aircraft. That's a combination of dispatch reliability, failure rates, maintenance, minimum equipment, crew requirements and training, and alot of other small factors like noise and fuel charges at different ports. The aviation game is a game of very small efficiencies. For example west jet 737s done have split winglets because they calculated the payload loss wasn't worth the aerodynamic gains. So all an electric airplane needs to do is bring down any combination of those factors to a point where it's a fraction of a percent cheaper and the technology will improve at a dramatic rate from corporate investment.

[@TriadAgone]

I see the biggest advantage of electric AC being 1. Performance and torque at any altitude will be identical. 2 dispatch reliability will be very high on electric motors, which could present even longer service life and cheaper maintenance than jet engines. They're also likely overall simpler systems.

[@chrisfreeman3241]

Absolutely breath taking!!!!!

[@warbledurbler7905]

Absolutely awesome! The scenery is pretty nice too

[@masboyrc]

This is awesome !! Very relaxing and looks so fun to fly. I believe this is will be the next favorite airplane in future.

[@kaikart123]

How far in the future though? Our current favorite airplane are made or designed in the 60's

[@masboyrc]

Looks so fun and relaxing up there 😁

[@TheOverlord99]

I remember that GoPro Photo of the Day! It is what got me interested in gliding! And to find this video years later is awesome haha! I will eventually accomplish my dream...thanks for being an inspiration!

[@artequintanilha]

Fantastic evolution.

[@michaelking6128]

Absolutely beautiful, I'm so jealous 😒

[@coltycoo377]

That beeping would drive me nuts

[@michaelderflinger5002]

If you are flying gliders u get used to it even appreciate the indication pretty soon. This instrument is called Variometer it shows the climbrate in m/s or ft/min or kt.

[@coltycoo377]

@@michaelderflinger5002 Hmmm, cool! Flying gliders does sound like a lot of fun :)

[@daszieher]

@@michaelderflinger5002 yup! The sweet sound of climb! 😊

Once you have been flying with that sound you will never forget it. Ended you will dream about that sound.

[@markthomasson5077]

Makes more noise than the engine, now that is koool

[@satishavasthi9554]

Outstanding invention....The future of aviation.

[@rpierwit]

Beautiful! Thanks.

[@The-KP]

Amazing plane.

[@arinasan247]

Really amazing! How far did it travel without needing to be recharged? IE, by solar power alone. Did it land with a full charge? Average speed?

[@williamjohnson560]

It can fly as long as there's aun out.

[@MichaelSHartman]

Mesmerizing views. Thanks. I couldn't help wondering what a 360 views would be like.

[@VliegerNL]

What an amazing airplane! Beautiful

[@robertosteffler1349]

Simplesmente magnífico

[@teytreet7358]

That's an awesome windshield.

[@Sackmatters]

Absolutely amazing.

[@willcall9431]

Can’t wait for the kit. The idea of taxi’ing by the fuel pumps and flying on the suns energy is a terrific idea. Looks very comfortable too.

[@tomthetoaster8004]

looks like this has been picked up by the algorithm

[@ryanm.191]

Hello daddy elon

[@abundantYOUniverse]

@James Sempy Thats why God invented cliffs.

[@diwanthegreat]

@@moealsharif13 Bro, I think what he meant was that this video was picked up by the KZbin algorithm, hence why it was in your recommendation. Nothing to do with energy whatsoever.

[@anandsuralkar2947]

Hi

[@olfmombach260]

Explains all the toxic ass comments suddenly

[@hypersoniclightningfast1422]

Lucky lucky you!! I'm dead jeaoulous 😉

[@2k7u]

Woah that's a massive bonker glider plane I love it!

[@ruslisim4796]

speechless, it's an amazing thing, buddy !!

[@SebastienChedalBornu]

Question : Battery capacity, solar panels capacity and motor consumption?

[@jaamachmal]

yes

[@roger201288]

I believe 69

[@torkdork69]

No no no no 14. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

[@ap0lmc]

@NonyaBusiness! well Elon Musk disagrees with you and said a electric supersonic jet is feasible and that battery regeneration could happen using gravity.

[@captaincronked7895]

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

[@Steven-on4ux]

This plane is too phucking beautiful~

[@feey1443]

Thanks for the video, not many ppl are lucky to see this impressive plane/glider or whatever is this

[@sergiymarchenko1002]

I can't even imagine how awesome heavenly feeling should be flying this glider...

[@muzkat101]

That was as much as of a near-perfect 3-point landing I have ever seen... really smooth - I watch the land at least 8 times, if not more to really see what was going on - though, I did happen to see a tiny bit of nose lift just after landing - I am no pilot, but perhaps not enough level or forward stick once down? Are the landings in this plane often this smooth?

[@uberdabby7299]

This glider can can fly for the eternity with a good maintenance!!

[@jadefalcon001]

What a fantastic aircraft!

[@DieterMe]

Videos from Sunseeker Duo are rare and short. I love this spots but you have a lot if powerful information I am looking for. Best Regards, Dieter

[@prince-se9cy]

how much does it cost

[@waynewilliams435]

This is really smart using solar pannels for the plane to fly

[@FieryCoal]

Yeah, it’s not like the plane now cost 50x what it would have

[@FieryCoal]

@@Darenz-cg9zg ultralights are already known to be fuel efficient when done right, and their wings aren’t the size of a building. It’s a cool design, but economically useless IMO.

[@spectrumman3457]

Kudos! Fly safely!

[@ricardoalves5092]

Show demais, maravilhoso vôo.

[@lautoka63]

Neat! Every big change starts with someone doing something that others think impractical or useless.

[@60viking]

That's the truth. What's the statistics, 95 % of people are negative 90% of the time? Something like that.

[@sherzaiasim]

FREEDOM, no one to hold wing and tow, retractable undercarriage, solar with a motor who cares about negative people, kudos to the designers, love glider flying is relaxing, specially wife next to you nothing more to ask..thank you for sharing

[@vermontjeff2535]

Please let us know about the plane and all the information about it .how far can you glide ? so on, thanks

[@michaellawrence1875]

Amazing couple

[@georgmaly2972]

Wunderbar und zugleich wunderschön. Und schon so alt.

[@cshubs]

That's the greatest thing I've ever seen!!!

[@MrRipple123]

can this plane sustain level flight on power from the solar panels alone, with no assistance from thermals, or the battery?

[@windofforests]

As far as i know it can, most part of the year. Even recharge its batteries while maintaining level flight. With the exception of few winter months.

No. There's not enough power out of the solar panels to power the engine. Take a look at the Solar Impulse for what you need to do to keep something in the air with sun power.

[@DLStarbuck]

Forest correct, Earl WRONG.

@@DLStarbuck Care to support you statement?

[@antonio030562]

I'm beeping impressed!

[@VOGTLANDOUTDOORS]

LOVED this (real) VIDEO - THIS IS WHAT man FIRST envisioned when he said "I want to FLY" :-) ... KEEP THE VIDEOS COMING !!!

[@Solar-flight]

Thanks! Will do!

[@Solar-flight]

Glad you enjoyed it! We feel the same way. Quiet as a glider, with a electric motor we can start anytime we want.

[@thesaint8400]

Newbie question here: Can the motors be activated quickly during landing in case of a go-around and would they provide enough thrust to get back up?

[@lowlife7453]

That is a great question, I would like to know the answer as well. I would think(based on the instant torque of electric motors I have personally experienced) it would be more responsive than combustion engines. I am a not smart, and this is just a guess.

[@danweyant707]

If it can take off unassisted and there is sufficient charge and runway, I don't see why not. But an electric plane with a low charge weighs the same as one with full batteries. The rest is down to the PV contribution, and a good question.

[@justme.9711]

YES, for sure, but being a glider pilot first and foremost, a go around would not be needed, the w.i.g. effect of a glider and their wingspan makes it not needed. Remember this is a glider and glider pilot.

[@nikolayvasilev7797]

This is my dream when I became older

[@gato328]

Hermoso avión, hermosas vistas!! 😍

[@feiwang1332]

Beautiful!

[@ke6319]

It blows my mind how quiet he plans is, and how quiet it is in the cabin , except for the altimeter beeping which makes it feel like a cruiser from star wars. I hope soon enough battery and solar tech will make this feasible to replace light jet planes . It would be fantastic

[@sidb9540]

It's not an altimeter...

[@60viking]

Do you go solar 100% or plug in to supercharge before a flight. Well done .

[@jaamachmal]

with a Long powercable...200 Miles

[@truefreedom8269]

@@jaamachmal before a flight dump. Learn to read.

[@absolutium]

@@truefreedom8269 Unless you know a way to plug to an outlet on flight.. well.. the joke is still a thing.

[@DudeBro571]

That landing was spot on

[@hafizuddinmohdlowhim8426]

Congratulations!

[@LacrymosaRequiem27]

Can you leave it plugged in to power your house when it's not in the air???

[@colorfulsouls4050]

This I'd actually a really smart idea but judging by the size Idk Who knows maybe you can take the giant wing off and set it near your house lol

[@TheNuclearBolton]

You can take the wings off and mount them to a wind turbine to get power from air and the sun at the same time!

[@anandsuralkar2947]

Or u can buy a solar panel for 1/100th of the price of this plane

[@deansnipah2895]

That constant beeping would make me want to open up the canopy, and jump out without a chute

[@thepb7913]

Beeping is good. You are going up. Booping is bad. You are going down.

[@matt79hz]

The vario is your friend. A glorious sound.

[@danieldey]

Glider pilots, paraglider pilots, hang glider pilots love that sound for that means you are going up which is especially valuable for non powered aircrafts.

[@jesperhustad]

The dopamine rush from the high pitch sounds going off at high frequency. Something like: baaaaa, baaa, booo, boo, beee, beeEEI, BEEEI, BEEEII, BEP BEP BEP BEP 🤩

[@guillermone1]

Simply amazing

[@Archerix]

Pure experiences and energy

[@mr.nobody3661]

congrats on the butter landing 1st place ryan air cant beat that

[@sumitsingh-es7yo]

Solar powered electric motor?

[@60viking]

Let me see I believe it Solar powered Batterys with battery powered motor. I wonder if solar powered motor is it? Weight savings anyhow. I think we had that record holding plane that was full solar and a bunch of motors. I would hope there is at least some back up.

[@RandomScientist]

@@60viking its essentially a glider or a sailplane without any souce of power. Hence the solar panel and motor itself is a backup. Sail plane has high drag ratio of 70:1 and uses thermal winds and wind flows for climbing up just like a kite.

[@60viking]

Thanks for the answer. I shouldn't type when I'm having a episode. When I reviewed my comment I was shocked to see how confusing my thinking can be.

[@RandomScientist]

@@60viking No problem pal. It happens with everyone. ☺️👍👍👍

[@sykoslim8851]

That is absolutely incredible. I hope in the future those are super affordable & anybody can buy 1 fly wherever they want for "free" during the day

[@jeffsiegwart]

A wonderful accomplishment.

[@atomflyer44]

Do you ever shut the motor off when climbing in a thermal?

[@OldMtnGeezer]

Go to 4:30 in the video. The high-pitched tones in the variometer indicate climb.

[@atomflyer44]

@@OldMtnGeezer I appreciate the response, I'm aware of the Variometer, I just wondered if that motor was on the whole time. Seems every shot showed the prop spinning.

[@erisversini7301]

atomflyer44 1:49 motor shut down and prop folded!

[@simergr]

Wow amazing plane. Are 5 kw of solar power enough for sustained flight on a sunny day? BTW People like you move the world forward, just a bunch of people make the difference and the rest of us just wait to peak up the fruits of your efforts. Congratulations from Greece.

[@plica06]

You should be thanking the engineers who designed that glider not the rich guy who paid for it.

[@marcopavone8695]

Wonderful glider!

[@BigFiveJack]

You folks are operating quite the aircraft!

[@petetube99]

Sadly I live in the UK where there isnt enough sun to power the beeping thing let alone the bloody motor.

[@badaboom2995]

:D

[@myth.364]

Vengo de Un Poco De Todo, esto es hermoso y increíble a la vez

[@victorespinoza4010]

Yo también :D

[@sol2544]

what a great combination of plane and glider there.

[@technicholy1299]

This is the equivalent of a sailboat in the air. You can fly whenever the sun is shining. Wild.

[@coltycoo377]

Why are you not taking pre-orders?

[@vornamenachname3847]

Thats right they wiuld find Sponsors easily

[@coltycoo377]

@@vornamenachname3847 Like me, for instance. TAKE MY FREAKING MONEY GUYS!!!!

[@vornamenachname3847]

@@coltycoo377 😂

[@borismajorov55]

Просто шикарно!🇷🇺

[@user-xo6tj9jz3o]

Она всё-таки круглая!!!!

[@borismajorov55]

@@user-xo6tj9jz3o што, рухнуло твое мировоззрение, как теперь будешь с этим жить?😂🇷🇺

[@abinashpanda393]

Suka blat

[@andrewandrew6444]

Fantastic video... I enjoyed a lot.. never seen such a solar powered aircraft..

[@60viking]

One flew around the world but it was much bigger than this one, a few years ago.

[@MatthewHeiskell]

That is the coolest plane ever!

[@arthurmagalhaes1678]

Belíssimo vôo, lindas imagens, lindas paisagens! Se tem algo que eu admiro nas pessoas é a capacidade que elas têm de tornar realidade algo que, para muitos, seria impossível: realizar o sonho de voar! Parabéns pelo seu vídeo, muito incentivador, muito espetacular!!!

[@pw3543]

Can’t imagine how much this thing costs!

[@kaatilbilla1202]

P W 1000 souls

[@lionely3485]

KingTostis III tf

[@ralphjason5795]

P W its the cheapest plane you could buy its 15000$ to 150000$ depends when its classic or modern glider

[@NilesBlackX]

@@ralphjason5795 where are you pulling those numbers from? It was hand built by them, it's not a commercial product you can buy from a company for a specific retail price...

[@voteforsocks45632]

Those clouds look amazing. I need to become a pilot

Pro-tip: You can see clouds from the ground too.

[@chrisgill1302]

So spacious in the cockpit.

[@stefantodorovic8112]

The turn at 4:31 is just amazing

[@rkan2]

How fast can this go with 10kW power at maximum cruise altitude?

[@nighthawk0077]

Fast? This is all about energy conservation and flight duration... Not speed.

[@rkan2]

@@nighthawk0077 Why should it mean that one cannot be interested about speed? :) I'm interested in how far it could go with some amount of batteries during the day.. Take 14 hours of sunlight and say 60kWh of batteries.. Could be 10kW of constant power for 14 hours :P

[@nighthawk0077]

@@rkan2 well the whole point is to fly as far and long as possible. Speed will encounter increased drag requiring more power. Same as any petrol or electric powered car. When the design and battery tech is good enough 24 hour a day flight is possible assuming flight above clouds..

[@rkan2]

@@nighthawk0077 Sure, I think with the right conditions 24 hour flight is already possible during summer in northern latitudes (even where the sun doesn't shine for 24hrs straight); it just hast to be flown to a high altitude before. It isn't flying too fast then though. I'd just like to know how fast it can go at calm winds with 5kW solar power and 5kW battery power. The 5kW (direct solar) speed was listed here kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnmWpmyfnr6SeaM @ 50kts.. By making some calculation with Kreuzdotter (cycling speed calculator) based on a Effective CdA of 0.55 (pretty much equal to a Cessna 152) I got ~130km/h @ 22000ft and ~100km/h at 5kW. The listed speed seems to match on the calculator with 12000ft @ 5kW (~90km/h), which makes me think the estimations are reasonable enough. With calm winds one could cross Europe in 18 hours @ 155km/h. With everything pointed out above, it would seem to require 10kW@FL360 or 15kW@FL230. Gonna need quite a big oxygen bottle though.

[@mohammadirfan5973]

Day flight and the most beautiful thing is the clouds

[@MegaControltv]

Hermoso vuelo y hermosa y asombrosa aeronave! felicitaciones ! que ganas de pilotar ese planeador motorizado. genial la tecnología solar, imagino que baterias lipo, mootor brushless , fibra de carbono y un software impecable. Nuevamente felicitaciones!