Imagine going around the world in a 100 percent solar powered airplane! I say that would be a real treat for all environment lovers.
You just need to be a little patient because by May 2011, Solar Impulse, the completely solar powered airplane will become a reality.
Bertrand Piccard, a Swiss psychiatrist and balloonist is the promoter of this project. The first flight is expected to be around the world near the equator.
There will be five stops so that pilots can be rotated and each leg is expected to last three to four days. Great, I am sure just like Zephyr had a successful solar flight; even Solar Impulse will achieve success.
The 80-metre wingspan of Solar Impulse will not only help to minimize the drag, but will also offer a wide surface for solar cells to power 40kW engines.The photo voltaic cells on the one-seated glider would gather energy in the batteries during the day to power the engines at night.
Despite scientific support from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), the Solar Impulse will be a European craft, not a Swiss one, because the financial and technical backing for this project is being done by European firms.
Wow, I don’t know about you, but I am really excited about the amazing possibilities the success of the Solar Impulse will open up.
The day maybe is not too far away, when we will have completely solar-powered passenger airplanes!
