Eco Factor: Helium blimp sheathed in solar panels to take its inaugural flight.
Almost a year after world’s first solar blimp madeits debut, the solar-powered airship is all set take its inaugural flight next week. Developed by Projet Sol’r, a collaboration between students at engineering and technical schools in France, the Nephelios is hopeful of crossing the English Channel in less than an hour that too by using solar power.
The helium blimp sheathed in solar panels is made from lightweight aluminum with an outer wrap made from nylon and polyethylene. The 72 feet long and 18 feet wide blimp capable of carrying only one passenger can generate 2.4 kilowatts that is just sufficient to keep it gliding at 25mph. If the inaugural flight becomes a success, Projet Sol’r will prove to the world that zero CO2 emission flight is actually possible.
Via: Inhabitat
