This plane is very strange

[pelmet]

A14O0172: The Amateur-Built Caracal aircraft (C-GOFO) was on a local test flight when it pitched nose down and struck the ground in this attitude. The aircraft remained upright but both occupants were seriously injured. Both occupants were wearing shoulder harnesses and helmets. The aircraft was located outside the airport boundary in a tobacco field. This aircrafdt has a helium filled wing with solar panels attached to the topside. The panels charge on board batteries which then power two DC motors. There are also two gas powered motors for supplemental power. The cockpit/cabin is located under the wing and is constructed from welded metal tubing. For control in flight there are two large elevators and two ailerons which are electrically operated and attached to the rear spar of the wing. There are also three rudders which are cable operated and located forward of the other controls. This aircraft is the only known model flying and was being test flown on a regular basis to determine its flight characteristics.

[GyvAir]

Not the most nimble looking beasts..

http://www.solarship.com/aircraft/

http://thecoolgadgets.com/caracal-chui- ... nd-energy/

[pdw]

It looks to have capability for very slow flight, where even at snail paced air-speeds a reliable pitch stability is kept secure via "larger elevators" (conventional laminar surfaces with its typical stall speed).

For this time in WX-history, the one thing noticeable is the very light cool/11C north-breeze on the surface (entices take-off North). On this morning though, the early morning shear-strength of a light warming breeze (south component increasing above) affects 'control' in climb-out when using an accustomed-to steepness yet not having a shear-potential in mind. In slow flight while in climb, and a low-speed (neg) wind shear's airspeed loss ....

[Dagwood]

...annnd beware of those variable tailwinds on final. This machine is a death trap!

[pdw]

Not applicable (re: the weather warning).

[pdw]

This machine is a death trap!

Is that concluding from observing the unfortunate incident, or other evidence ? Seems it's being designed for export and a specific purpose (not GA), and not for domestic sales. There would have to be some serious understanding of the laws of aerodynamics for the project to have evolved to this point ... going about testing it in the basically calm early morning air at first. It was already airborne for a while (news article) before this particular take-off sequence (accident apparently in climb out).