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Solar Impulse HB-SIA Solar-Powered Plane Takes to the Sky
On April 7, a sleek flying craft with a 208-foot wingspan took to the sky above Switzerland. It was the inaugural flight of the Solar Impulse HB-SIA, a solar-powered plane that just might be the first aircraft to eventually make a zero-emission flight around the world.
Powered by four electric engines drawing energy from almost 12,000 silicon mono-crystalline solar cells located on the craft’s wings and horizontal stabilizer, the Solar Impulse reached just under 4,000 feet. A pilot working with minimal instrumentation and in an unpressurized cabin guided the plane through a series of test maneuvers during the 87-minute flight.
The successful test flight of the HB-SIA leads to the next step, which is a 36-hour flight. The trip would involve night flying and require the use of lithium-polymer batteries. If all goes well, a second aircraft called the HB-SIB will be built. This aircraft is slated to attempt a trans-Atlantic crossing in 2012.
The Solar Impulse HB-SIA is the result of a combined effort between Solar Impulse company chairman and co-founder Bernard Piccard and an international team of mutli-disciplinary scientists. Piccard was the first person to pilot a balloon non-stop around the world. Perhaps, someday, a Solar Impulse pilot will do the same.
Recommended for Further Reading:
- Boeing completes successful maiden flight of their 787 Dreamliner Fuel-Efficient Airplane
- Air Force Uses Solar Powered Shipping Container for Portable Renewable Energy
- Logitech to Release Solar-Powered Keyboard
- LG and General Motors Invest Big in Green
- AS Solar: Solar Wholesale Distributors with High Standards
- Another Skyscraper Goes Green with $350 Million Retrofit
- Solar Charger from KIWI Choice Might be the Versatile Charger you've been waiting for
- Bosch Showcases Solar Powered Electric Bike
- France Plans Cut in Solar Feed-in Tariff
- Braking Trains to Generate Electricity for Philadelphia
- Solar Industry to Face Solar Waste Recycling Issues
- Ford To Employ Solar Power at Michigan Manufacturing Plant
- Yingli: The 6th Largest PV Manufacturer
- Solar Powered Cell Phone Towers to Serve 1 Billion Users by 2015
- LA Replacing Its Street Lights & Bus Stop Lighting with LEDs
Solar Impulse HB-SIA Solar-Powered Plane Takes to the Sky http://t.co/CnPSInmG #eco #cleantech #greenbuilding #renewableenergy
Solar Impulse HB-SIA Solar-Powered Plane Takes to the Sky http://t.co/d6OfGjDu #eco #cleantech #greenbuilding #renewableenergy
[...] solar powered airplane buildaroo.com [...]
Solar Impulse HB-SIA Solar-Powered Plane Takes to the Sky http://bit.ly/cBfZ3N #eco #cleantech #greenbuilding #renewableenergy
[...] Thursday, July 8th, a solar powered airplane flew off of a runway in Payerne, Switzerland and into the record books. The flight, made by a plane [...]
[...] a solar powered airplane will attempt to fly without the luxury of direct sunlight. After the Solar Impulse’s first successful day flight in April, the Solar Impulse will take another leap toward the ultimate goal of taking an airplane [...]
Solar Impulse HB-SIA Solar-Powered Plane Takes to the Sky http://ow.ly/1A49W via buildaroo
No WAY! @buildaroo Swiss solar-powered plane flies for 87 min! http://bit.ly/cBfZ3N #solar #renewableenergy #cleantech #alternativeenergy