Fly Through The Skies Using Solar Power

It is called the Solar Impulse and it is an airplane that uses solar power as its energy. This aircraft is a project that has been spearheaded by Bertrand Piccard who is a balloon pioneer of Swiss descent.

The whole team behind Solar Impulse is still working on this prototype and they are aiming at completing a good model that would be able to fly around the world by the year 2011. Although it cannot yet have passengers, this one would be a good one to follow.

If you are interested, there are going to be updates on how the Solar Impulse is faring. And those who are going to control the vehicle are making sure that during the day, the aircraft would be able to take in as much of the sun’s power to keep it going despite hours when the sun would want to take a hiding.

Piccard does talk about the project by stating: “We have no idea if the virtual flight will be a success or not. We’re dealing with real conditions, so it may be a failure.” But he does say that this project is a good opportunity for them to learn.

[Via The China Post]
[Image from Aviation Art]