After the predecessor of the solar plane Solar Impulse 2 made history several times, including as the first solar plane to make an intercontinental flight, its successor has set itself an even more daring mission, which plans to fly around the world, which has already started in Abu Dhabi. In doing so, the 2.3 tonne carbon fiber aircraft with a wingspan of 72 metres, piloted alternately by the father of the aircraft, Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard from Switzerland, will be able to use only solar energy.
Solar Impulse 2 will try to become the first solar plane, which will fly around the world on solar energy. He collects herring with help 17 thousand solar cells, which drive brushless motors te carbonaceous "dart arrows". The mission is expected to last five months, and its primary mission is awareness raising and promotion of green energy. In the gallery you can see where everything will meet the ground, but we can say that the first outpost, one of dozens, Muscat in Oman, already visited.
Solar Impulse 2 is scheduled to return to the Persian Gulf in the summer (at the end of July or at the beginning of August), and in the air it should break the total 25 days. It should last a fifth of that the longest flight, the one when he will overcome the distance between Nanjing, China and Hawaii and when he will have to rely on the sun as 8500 kilometers.
READ MORE: Skylon: a plane that will take us anywhere and into space in four hours
If a lot went into the development of an aircraft that can otherwise handle speed up to 140 km/h, but it also went into the psychophysical preparation of the pilots. Among other things, they also trained in self-hypnosis, which allows them to after 20 minutes of sleep they wake up they rest. Meteorologists, or rather a team, also came to their aid 65 meteorologists, who, together with engineers and air sweep supervisors, will provide assistance from the control center in Monaco.
More information:
info.solarimpulse.com
