The plane that can fly forever (in theory)
|Published
People stand around he new experimental aircraft Solar Impulse 2 during the first exit for solar generator tests at the airbase in Payerne, Switzerland. People stand around he new experimental aircraft Solar Impulse 2 during the first exit for solar generator tests at the airbase in Payerne, Switzerland.
London - It has a bigger wingspan than a jumbo jet but weighs little more than a family car. This is Solar Impulse 2, which carries no fuel and relies entirely on the sun for its power.
The aeroplane, which in theory can, its Swiss makers claim, remain airborne indefinitely, made its maiden flight on Monday in preparation for a round-the-world attempt next year.
It flew for two hours over western Switzerland, climbing to 6 000ft as test pilot Markus Scherdel checked its handling, before landing safely.
The wings and body of the carbon-fibre aircraft are covered with solar panels which drive the four propeller engines. During daylight hours, when it is designed to climb to 27800ft, spare energy from the 17 000 solar cells is used to charge lithium batteries. These power the plane at night as it glides down to 5 000ft.
The batteries take up a quarter of the weight of the two-ton plane, which has a 236ft wingspan – 25ft longer than a Boeing 747’s – and a top speed of just 86mph.
In order to keep flying on solar power alone, it uses very little energy. The four engines have the average output of a small motorcycle. The Si2 is a larger, upgraded version of an aircraft that flew across the US last year.
The project’s co-founders, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, will pilot the plane themselves next year.
Mr Borschberg said: “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.”
Further test flights are due this summer to allow aviation authorities to certify the experimental machine as airworthy. - Daily Mail