Sun-powered plane

Dec 10 3:18pm

I’ve been watching it’s development for a while and it’s nice to see it finally take off, albeit for a short distance and as you can see only a meter off the ground. But it’s progress for the 200-ft wingspan Solar Impulse towards the goal of creator Bertrand Piccard of “a solar aircraft capable of flying day and night without fuel”.

While still many steps lie between this and being able to fly through the night it is still remarkable that it’s even possible. It’s one more avenue being explored in the holy grail of sorts: to have aircraft stay aloft indefinitely (or nearly so), a budding area of research of mine.

More photos.