There are not many dreams or black spots left in aviation – but this is one of the last challenges you can find as a pilot: flying with a prob, but powered by the sun!
The team around the project initiator Bertrand Piccard is working hard to realize the dream to fly around the world just by the power of the sun. Project start was in 2005, since then, many test flights by day and by night were executed.
Video Solar Impulse – Best of Night Flight (Youtube)
Some technical facts:
- Wingspan: 63,40 m
- Length: 21,85 m
- Height: 6,40 m
- Weight: 1 600 Kg
- Motor power: 4 x 10 HP electric engines
- Solar cells: 11.628 (10.748 on the wing, 880 on the horizontal stabilizer)
- Average flying speed: 70 km/h
- Take-off speed: 35 km/h
- Maximum altitude: 8 500 m (27 900 ft)
Find more about the latest project status and ongoing (test) flights on the
Solar Impule Website