Solar Impulse: Solar plane completed the first transcontinental flight

Solar Impulse - The aircraft uses solar energy first in the world has completed 6000 km journey across continents (Europe - Africa) and landed safely at Payerne (Switzerland). It is worth noting that Solar Impulse can fly at night without using any add additional fuel. Specifically, the two wings are integrated photovoltaics 12,000 monocrystalline silicon is responsible for generating energy through solar power - to help move the plane. At the same time as producing more power than necessary, it is immediately transferred to storage in lithium polymer batteries (weighing 400kg) for use at night. The size of an Airbus A340, but thanks to carbon fiber design should Solar Impulse range weighs 1.6 tons, a wingspan of about 80m, also owns four aircraft engines - a 10 horsepower each, in ideal conditions it reached an average speed of 70 km / h.   Solar Impulse has shown tremendous potential of technology to use solar energy, opening up new opportunities for the aviation industry in the future. Besides it also has significance for education, encouraging people to use green technology for environmental protection. Known on the journey lasts 2 months for the flight Madrid, Rabat, Malta, Ouarzazate (Morocco), Toulouse, and Payerne. The crew consists of two men: Bernard Piccard (the inventor of Solar Impulse) and engineer Andre Borschberg. This is the premise for Solar Impulse made round the world flight scheduled for next year.   Solar Impulse landing in Toulouse (France)      $ ("# Galleria_355004642"). Galleria ({ width: 490, height: 500, maxScaleRatio: 1, preload: 3, idleMode: false, trueFullscreen: false, });   Source: Universetoday, Solarimpulse ...