Solar impulse, an ultra-lightweight plane powered completely by the sun is set to fly coast-to-coast this Spring! The plane requires zero fuel and relies solely on solar panels and battery power.
The two Swiss pilots of the plane, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, want to complete a flight from Moffett Field to New York City. Along the way it will stop in Phoenix, Ariz., Dallas-Ft. Worth, Washington, D.C., and either Nashville, Tenn., Atlanta, Ga., or St. Louis. The plane will embark on May 1 and will arrive in the Big Apple by early July.
The plane, called Solar Impulse, has a wingspan equivalent to a 747 jetliner, the weight of a station wagon, and the power needs of a small scooter. The solar panels across its wings harness power from the sun during the day, and lithium-polymer batteries store that energy for overnight trips. A carbon-fiber material formed in a honeycomb structure makes up the bulk of the plane, which allows for its feather-weight.
Although the plane can only travel with flyer at a time (the pilot) the possibilities are endless for the future. Think about it this way: the biggest chunk of our airfare goes towards fueling a plane, if we can eliminate that cost, we can expect travel costs to be sliced in half! Take that gas prices!
Check out footage from one of the Solar Impulse’s first take offs:
