Solar Impulse 2 Completed its Maiden Flight This Week
Solar Impulse 2 took off for its maiden flight on Monday June 2nd. It was a great moment for the team that has worked so hard to build the revolutionary solar airplane. Thanks to a successful first flight, the Solar Impulse 2 was approved by the authorities and will commence further test flights this summer. The team is well n their way to their ultimate goal of attempting of the First Round-The-World Solar Flight powered only by solar energy next year.
The Solar Impulse 2 is a second generation airplane powered completely by the sun. The first generation Solar Impulse had many successful flights and the team used the experience and data from these flights to design the Solar Impulse 2.
About the Plane:
- This revolutionary single-seater aircraft made of carbon fiber has a 72 meter wingspan (larger than that of the Boeing 747-8I) for a weight of just 2,300 Kg, equivalent to that of a car.
- The 17,000 solar cells built into the wing supply four electric motors (17.5 CV each) with renewable energy.
- During the day, the solar cells recharge lithium batteries weighing 633 Kg (2077 lbs.) which allow the aircraft to fly at night and therefore to have virtually unlimited autonomy.
Enjoy the videos of its maiden flight.
Tags: solar pv
