Manned Solar Plane Will Attempt Flight Around the World
Written by Nancy Atkinson
The HB-SIA. Credit: Solar Impulse
A man who circled the globe in a balloon in 1999 has a new global adventure planned. Bertrand Piccard has unveiled a prototype of a solar-powered plane he hopes to fly around the world. Until now, only unmanned solar airplanes have been flown, but Piccard's HB-SIA would be manned. The glider-like plane has solar panels covering the wings, and the wingspan of the prototype reaches 61m, while the entire vehicle weighs only 1,500 kg. The first tests of the plane will be done to prove it can fly at night. Piccard says he wants to demonstrate the potential of renewable energies.
Piccard just unveiled the prototype, and he hopes to attempt a flight across the Atlantic by 2012.
Solar and battery technology is just now maturing enough to enable solar flight. In 2007 the UK defence company Qinetiq flew an unmanned aerial vehicle called the Zephyr unmanned for 54 continuous hours during tests.
The HB-SIA. Credit: BBC
But Piccard and his company, Solar Impulse are working on what they believe to be a breakthrough design, using super-efficient solar cells, batteries, motors and propellers to get it through the dark hours and composite materials to keep it extremely light.
Although the vehicle is expected to be capable of flying non-stop around the globe, Piccard will in fact make five long hops, sharing flying duties with project partner Andre Borschberg.
"The aeroplane could do it theoretically non-stop – but not the pilot," said Piccard told the BBC. "We should fly at roughly 25 knots and that would make it between 20 and 25 days to go around the world, which is too much for a pilot who has to steer the plane. In a balloon you can sleep, because it stays in the air even if you sleep. We believe the maximum for one pilot is five days."
Source: BBC
Filed under: Technology
Tags: flight, solar powerRelated stories on Universe Today
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June 26th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Nice! But do you mean to say no one has flown solar powered gliders long distances? or 'Non-stop' flights? Because actually a transcontinental flight was made, back in the early 80's… I met the pilot at the 'SEER' solar convention in Willits CA back in the late 80's… By the way, he crashed on the last leg of the journey… sheesh..
June 26th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
"…fly around the world. Until now, only unmanned solar airplanes have been flown…"
June 27th, 2009 at 12:17 am
I remember an essay I had to write in first year at University, way back in 1970: I was asked to show why planes powered by electricity could not fly… and I did, and passed the test…
