The AFP has reported that a Swiss designed prototype aircraft that will eventually fly around the world at night using solar power is about to the skies. The two-seater Solar Impulse has a 63.40 meter (208 foot) wingspan, roughly that of an Airbus A340 airliner. Amazingly though, the aircraft only weighs about 1,600 kilograms (3,500 pounds) or roughly the weight of an average car. However, the prototype is actually slightly smaller than the aircraft that is planned to fly around the world powered by solar energy some time in 2013.
Interestingly enough, the prototype is powered by four 10 horsepower electric motors which are about as strong as the engine that the Wright Brothers used more than 100 years ago. Hence, the Solar Impulse’s take-off speed is only 35 kilometers per hour (or 22 mph) while its cruising speed is barely twice that.
The founder and President of Solar Impulse is Bertrand Piccard, the round-the-world balloonist, plus the venture is joined by retired NASA chief test pilot Rogers Smith and by former space shuttle astronaut Claude Nicollier. They will need a 25 hour window of clear and calm summer weather above Switzerland and eastern France before attempting their 10th test flight which – a first round-the-clock flight for a solar-powered aircraft.
Related posts:
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Looks like military drones are in for a big update if this works out