Solar Powered Plane Takes Flight
The goal is to fly day and night with no fuel. The goal is to demonstrate the importance of renewable energies, to show that with renewable energies we can achieve impossible things.” Bertrand Piccard, solar plane project leader
Based on recent events regarding the late Guru, voice of the legendary Hip Hop group Gang Starr, some folks on twitter seem to be confused. Guru’s former creative partner and apparent all around shady character MC Solar has spawned trending phrases like #f*cksolar or even word of this new website fucksolar.com that were confusing to some not familiar with the story of Guru’s tragic passing.
This animosity is totally separate from people’s feelings about solar energy. And for good reason. Solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source. Solar energy gets to add fueling a plane around the world to its resume in 2012. For now the 90 minute test flight of The Solar Impulse propeller plane in Switzerland was a success.
How fast can it go? No faster than 28 mph.
Wingspan: 61 meters (200 feet) as wide as a 747 jumbo jet
Number of solar cells: 12,000
In case you were wondering the surplus energy from its solar cells is saved in high-performance batteries.
A night flight is scheduled before July with a second model to be developed off of those test results.
Solar energy does not have enough ‘energy density’ to power regular airplanes that are supposed to fly somewhere in a reasonably short time,” said Hans Weber, president of San Diego-based aviation consulting firm TECOP International, Inc.
This is so interesting. Although it only goes 28 mph now, just imagine where this could lead? Fascinating.
I know the potential is so great who knows what our grandkids will be flying in! Thanks for your comment Quiskaeya.