Solar Impulse, the first solar powered aircraft in the world, successfully flew for the first time. At its inaugural flight, Solar Impulse successfully aired for 87 minutes at an altitude of 5000 feet.Solar Impulse has also proven the ability to fly for 26 hours and reaches a height of 28 543 feet, or 8700 meters. Despite the fact a few months ago a plane with two propellers was expected to fly for 36 hours.
Some of you may wonder how the Solar Impulse to fly for 26 hours, while the sun is not shining so long. The answer is simple, namely battery.
Possibility there are two options to recharge the batteries, can be filled before the Solar Impulse flown, or even filled in when the plane was in the clouds.
Clearly, solar power can now be relied upon as an alternative power source that lasts for flying an aircraft. In the program, Solar Impulse is still planned to fly around the world in 2012.
Solar Impulse is not a plane which is light and easy to fly. 12 000 aircraft was powered by solar panels and a jumbo jet which was much heavier.
To realize his dream around the world, there are still many gaps that must be repaired so that the plane could fly safely.
Yesterday, solar powered plane has a wingspan of 200 feet, equivalent to a Boeing 737 with 44 horse-powered engines, successfully completed trials in Switzerland with pilot Marcus Scherdel.
Under sunny, Solar Impulse to fly through mountains, valleys, until its end in the Alps at an altitude of 3000 feet to avoid turbulence is low and hot winds that often occur in mountainous areas.
