Solar energy is being researched and tested in almost every place where energy is needed. The aircraft industry is not left out of the picture. Just imagine an aircraft that could stay aloft day powered only by sunlight. Many independents and governmental agencies are testing and investigating the use of solar flight. It is possible that someday solar flight maybe commonplace.

Solar Impulse - Solar Powered Flight in Testing.

This solar plane, with a wingspan of about 263 feet, it is comparable to an Airbus A380. Instead of the six hundred-person capacity of the Airbus A380, the Solar Impulse will only carry one person, the pilot for its flight around the globe. The Solar Impulse, thanks to solar panels won’t need any fuel to accomplish this feat.

Solar Powered Flight - Solar Impulse.

Currently there are roughly thirty-five engineers working on the Solar Impulse project. Weighing approximately four thousand five hundred pounds, the foam layered carbon fiber materials building the Solar Impulse will fly at an altitude of forty thousand feet. Wings fitted with a film of ultra-thin flexible solar cells will harness the sun’s flux, which is enough at that height to power both the engines and recharge its lithium batteries.

Designed to cruise at speeds of 45 knots the engines power consumption if nine KWH. The plans for the Solar Impulse is as follows: 2008 first flight of the prototype, 2010 non-stop across the Atlantic, or USA, 2011 the first attempt to fly non-stop around the globe.

The space agency already relies on the sun to power satellites and has developed ”efficient solar cells”. Using already available knowledge and intelligent energy management and storage systems, the possibility of success with the Solar Impulse is good.

Challenges yet to be overcome, for solar-powered flight are great. Just as great are the potential benefits. Managing solar powered plane will allow us to protect our environment and still provide necessary travel without need for using traditional fossil fuel. (Written 2007)