Solar Plane Makes World's First Solar Powered Night Flight
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 01:43PM
This summer, pilot and CEO of Solar Impulse Andre Borschberg landed his solar powered aircraft in Switzerland 26 hours after completing the world's first solar powered night flight. Until now, most solar powered aircraft had been unmanned, and none had attempted a night flight.
A technological marvel
The Solar Impulse HB-SIA reached a maximum speed of 68 knots and averaging in at about 23 knots. 12,000 solar cells line its 193-foot wings. Energy was stored during the day, and then used after nightfall to complete the night flight.
A bright future
In the wake of this monumental achievement in green technology, hopes run high for future endeavors. Plans have already been made for a solar circumnavigation of the globe in 2012 using the current Solar Impulse plane as a prototype.
Perpetual flight a possibility
Reuters Magazine quoted Borscheberg as saying, "We are on the verge of perpetual flight." This has long been a dream of green and mainstream science alike. If perpetual flight could be achieved, layovers in intermediate cities would be a thing of the past. More critically, the massive amount of fuel used to power commercial jets would be greatly reduced or even eliminated.
Green technology enthusiasts should keep an eye on the Solar Impulse Project in the coming years, as they will undoubtedly spearhead the first wave of the green aviation movement.
Guest Blogger Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at onlinedegrees.org, researching areas of online education. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.











