Like something from the pages of a Jules Verne novel, an experimental manned aeroplane powered by energy from the sun has made a 26 hour test flight, including an historic night flight, a first for a solar-powered aircraft.
The Solar Impulse HB-SIA, which stores energy in solar panels on its wings, successfully landed to the cheers of a crowd of supporters applauding what is being described as a major landmark in the history of aviation.
The flight departed from Payerne, Switzerland just before 7am local time and landed the next day at 9am, the aim of the flight being mainly to assess the plane’s ability to fly in the dark, using solar cells to generate enough power to stay in the air for 24 hours.
For more than 24 hours pilot André Borschberg steered the huge aircraft with its 64 metre wingspan.
Powered purely by solar energy the flight is the longest and highest in the history of solar aviation.
The Swiss solar-powered plane was piloted by the project’s Chief Executive who flew the aircraft to nearly 28,000 feet and then descended slowly with it to 4,500 feet during the night.
Mr Borschberg described the experience of monitoring the solar battery while he was in flight:
“I’ve been a pilot for 40 years now, but this flight has been the most incredible one of my flying career. Just sitting there and watching the battery charge level rise and rise thanks to the sun and then that suspense, not knowing whether we were going to manage to stay up in the air the whole night.
“And then finally the joy of seeing the sun rise and feeling the energy beginning to circulate in the solar panels again.”
Solar power technology continues to develop at a pace but the success of the Solar Impulse does seem like something from a science fiction novel, an aeroplane fuelled by sun rays.
The results of the test flight should not be underestimated. The flight has shown that it is possible to fly 26 hours without using any fuel and without causing any pollution.
“This is a crucial step forward. It gives full credibility to the speeches we hold since years ago about renewable energies and clean techs; and allows us now to get closer to perpetual flight without using a drop of fuel,” says Bertrand Piccard, founder of the project.
Mr Piccard is no stranger to headlines. He was the man that piloted the first non-stop balloon flight around the world.
As well as a passion for adventure, the team’s mission statement is to rewrite the history books in terms of aviation and solar energy.
The Solar Impulse project intends to contribute to the world of exploration and innovation, to the cause of renewable energies and to demonstrate the importance of these new technologies in creating a sustainable future.
During the flight, the 12,000 solar cells attached to the plane’s wings and horizontal stabilizers charged a battery, which was used to power four engines.
The aircraft has a wingspan of over 63 metres, is almost 22 metres in length and weighs about 1,600kg. It can travel up to 70km per hour.
The night flight test is being seen as a crucial moment for the Solar Impulse project, proving its credibility.
