Flying around the world in an aircraft burning no fuel, using only the power of the sun’s rays for energy, took a big step closer this week with the maiden flight of Solar Impulse 2
The innovate single-seat + living area aircraft will be flown by electric aviation pioneers Bertand Piccard and Andre Borschberg around the world in 2015. It is powered by four electric engines spread out along a massive wing – bigger than that of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. Solar panels on top of the wing produce electricity which chages batteries contained within the aircraft.
Professional test pilot Marcus Scherdel flew Solar Impulse 2 for just over two hours on this first flight, starting from the team’s base at Payerne, Switzerland. The aircraft will have many more flights during the test program as its heads for a form of certification that will allow it to fly around the world.
“This inaugural flight is an important stage – a step closer towards the round-the-world flight,” said Andre Borschberg. Picard and Borschberg have successfully flown the original Solar Impulse aircraft (no 1) for a series of day and night flights.
“It is also a huge emotional step for the entire team and all our partners who have worked on the aircraft. Si2 incorporates a vast amount of new technology to render it more efficient, reliable and in particular better adapted to long haul flights. It is the first aircraft which will have almost unlimited endurance.”
Solar Impulse 2 has just a single-seat with space for the pilot to carry out exercises and daily life tasks. It is made of carbon fibre and has a 72 metre wingspan but a weight of just 2,300 kg. The 17,000 solar cells built into the wing supply four electric motors (17.5 CV each) with renewable energy. During the day, the solar cells recharge lithium batteries weighing 633 kg which allow the aircraft to fly at night and therefore to have virtually unlimited autonomy.
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