Payerne, Switzerland (CNN) -- With the wingspan of a jumbo jet and a scooter-sized engine, the Solar Impulse is a one of a kind.
Thanks to nearly 12,000 solar cells and four electrically-powered propellers, it's the first aircraft in the world that can fly without any fuel -- day or night.
The 63-meter wide, 1,600 kilogram plane is already a record breaker, staying in the air for 26 unbroken hours in 2010.
But it's about more than just flying, says pilot Andre Borschberg.
"We want to show what can be done with these technologies," Borschberg said.
"We can keep our quality of life but reduce our energy consumptions, reduce our dependency on oil and nuclear energy."
The idea for Solar Impulse came from Bertrand Piccard, the first man to travel non-stop around the world in a balloon.
"We almost failed (because of) lack of fuel," Piccard said of his epic journey back in 1999.
"At that moment, I made a promise that the next time I would fly around the world it would be with no fuel at all. And that's how the vision of solar impulse was born," he said.
But it wasn't until he met Borschberg seven years ago that he began to fulfill that promise.
With a budget of $134 million at their disposal, the Solar Impulse team have the sponsors and the support to realize their goal of flying around the world without fuel in 2014 -- a first in aviation history.
"Everything we do is new. Each time it's a pioneering step," Piccard said.
"When the Wright Brothers did that first flight in 1903, it took 25 years for Charles Lindbergh to cross the Atlantic. He did it alone. (It then took) another 25 years to have 100 passengers flying over the Atlantic."
With fair winds behind them, Piccard and Borschberg are confident that the future of solar flying is bright and that Solar Impulse will soar into the record books, securing their place in aviation history as 21st century pioneers of flight.
In the article he speak to us of new forms of transport. No more use of fuel and watch one little change in the people think
I think that this is a really cool thing, when we use this solar energy we can save not only oil or nuclear energy. we are also taking care of our planet,avoiding the toxic gases and keeping clean the oceans.
ResponderEliminarand we are proving that there are more options and we need to start changing our minds.
This is obviously a great way to preserve the planet, using Solar energy will help that. But considering the costs of installing solar panels in houses, cars etc. It's really unlikely it can spread throughout the world do to the high cost. Nonetheless it's an interesting article.
ResponderEliminarI agree, now these days exist many comunities with this panels, I thing we started to realize that we are destroying the world, in many countries are giving promotion to the aid.
ResponderEliminarthe article is very interesting beacuse help the enviroment but really the companies will use the solar energy, its very expensive. for example in a future in a commercial flight.
ResponderEliminarhow much the ticket? I dont want to think.
I like your thinking Daniel, like your article, I think it's good to try to look a little bit of nature and restore a bit of how much she gives us every day!
ResponderEliminarIf the world engages in such inventions as we would not be so polluted.
ResponderEliminarthis invention is fabulous and we could never imagine traveling without polluting and without fuel.
Look forward to hearing the cost of travel by this mode of transport. =)
amazing what we can do with technology, and this new invention will help us care for our planet and to prevent pollution, but also is a problem because we would be depleting our natural resources.
ResponderEliminarAnother new way of how man demonstrates its ability to want to improve and make more comfortable daily life, a new transport, very interesting!
ResponderEliminarIs a interesting article, this plane will helps the environment...
ResponderEliminar