Solar Impulse Powers Up for Night Flight

The Solar Impulse renewable energy-based technology demonstrator is set to enter a new phase in its testing prior to an attempted round-the-world flight in three years’ time.

As described in a press release sent to Enviro News, a night flight is now set to take place in coming days. The goal of this is to prove the viability of operating a solar-powered aircraft around the clock and take one more step towards achieving the dream of never-ending flight.

Solar Impulse’s night flight will be the first one ever carried out by a solar-powered aircraft.

Solar Impulse Flight

The actual date for the flight has not yet been set, but is likely to occur between 20-30 June 2010.

Solar Impulse’s first flight was achieved on 7 April this year, since which time eight more test flights have been carried out, but all have been during the daytime: the night flight represents a whole new and, as yet, unrealised dimension.

“To fly day and night with a solar aircraft is a human and technological challenge that has never been met so far, and an essential stage of the project”, Solar Impulse’s Chief Executive Officer André Borschberg stated. “Demonstrating that we can fly a whole day and night will then permit us to fly several successive cycles and come close to perpetual flight.”

Solar Powered Night Flight

“The big question will be whether the pilot will be able to save sufficient energy as to fly right through the night”, Bertrand Piccand, the Solar Impulse project’s chairman, added.

“These night flights in an aircraft propelled uniquely by solar energy are intended to demonstrate the potential of the renewable energies and the technologies that will gradually enable us to diminish our dependence on oil.”

Solar Impulse has a wingspan roughly equivalent to that of the largest commercial airliner in service today, but weighs around the same as a standard saloon car.

The first unrefueled circumnavigation was achieved by the conventionally-powered Rutan Voyager aircraft in 1986. Little more than two decades later, the prospect of the first solar-powered circumnavigation is drawing ever closer.

Enviro News will continue to provide regular News updates on this remarkable project and its latest progress.

Solar Impulse image kindly provided by and copyright of Solar Impulse