A 1,500kg prototype solar powered aeroplane with a wingspan as wide as a Jumbo-Jet had its first test flight on Thursday 19 November 2009. The machine built by Swiss company ‘Solar Impulse’ flew for a 2km at a speed of 5 knots.
Swiss adventurer, Bertrand Piccard, will be pilot for its maiden flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 2012. In the meantime the team will continue to test the engines and computer. They intend to the double the crafts speed to 10 knots with a second flight in February 2010.
Solar Impulse Chief Executive, Andre Borschberg, told the BBC that this was a little bit like the Wright brothers in 1903. “each step will be a careful one.” He said.
(image courtesy of the BBC)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8367214.stm
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