Eco Factor: Manned airplane powered by solar energy.
Solar Flight’s quest to fly on solar energy proved worthwhile when they successfully crossed the United States in their first solar-powered plane, the Sunseeker I. Now the company is gearing up again to show the worth of solar energy in aviation with a new and improved aircraft called the Sunseeker II.
The Sunseeker II has been developed after carefully examining the technical aspects of Sunseeker I and looking for ways the design could be improved for better performance. The improvements came in the form of a new wing design, better photovoltaic panels, more powerful motor and a better lithium-polymer battery system.
Solar Flight will now take Sunseeker II on a flying tour around Europe following its featured presentation at the e-flight expo. The tour will be the largest journey for the Sunseeker since 1990, when its predecessor, Sunseeker I, crossed the United States in 21 flights. The European tour will cover many countries including: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, France and Spain.
Images Courtesy: Solar Flight [Used with Permission]
Thanks: Eric Lentz-Gauthier