For few months, the Solar Impulse made it clear: solar aircrafts are the future. The zero emission aircraft, powered by 12000 solar cells, flew during 24 hours, night and day, and gave the lead. The project aims to fly all around the world – with another prototype – but it is now focusing on making this beauty fly all around Switzerland, and showing that it is reliable and as efficient as a classic jet. This first world manned aircraft powered only by solar energy is  3,500 lbs heavy, and is powered by four 10-horsepower electric motors fed in energy by solar batteries. The only twist: it has to be controlled by people on the ground during take off and landing. Why? Because it only has a central landing gear, to stay super light. Also, his engines are low-powered and don’t allow this aircraft to go very fast – around 70 km/h in flight! Anyway, this project is awesome, and because of its impact it will surely lead do some new planes, bigger and more powerful. I just hope big manufacturers – like Boeing and Airbus – will integrate those innovations as quickly as possible – why not create “hybrid” aircrafts? – and not wait decades before to think about it.

Support and follow this project here: www.solarimpulse.com