Bertrand Piccard’s Solar Impulse project has made significant strides since its inception. The Solar Impulse 2 completed the first round-the-world flight by a solar-powered aeroplane in 2016, showcasing the potential of renewable energy. The final leg of the journey was challenging, with turbulence over the Saudi desert, but Piccard triumphantly concluded the epic flight in Abu Dhabi. The project highlighted the clean technology revolution and the importance of integrating ecology with the economy[3].
In 2016, the Solar Impulse 2 also completed a historic journey across the Pacific Ocean, landing in California after a risky, three-day flight without fuel. The plane, equipped with over 17,000 solar cells, demonstrated the possibilities of solar-powered flight and the importance of renewable energy and innovation[4].
As for the prototype of a solar-powered plane intended for a global flight, with a 61m wingspan and weighing 1,500kg, it aimed to showcase renewable energy’s potential. The final plane version planned to cross the Atlantic in 2012, emphasizing the challenges of evolving solar and battery technology required for night flight. The Solar Impulse team invested significantly in breakthrough design using composite materials, efficient solar cells, batteries, motors, and propellers. The project aimed not only for technical achievement but also to inspire the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency[5].
Solar Impulse 1 and 2 flew over several major cities during their flights. Solar Impulse 1 completed successful solar-powered flights from Switzerland to Spain and then Morocco in 2012, and conducted a multi-stage flight across the US in 2013. Solar Impulse 2, on the other hand, circumnavigated the globe, departing from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, and making stops in cities such as Muscat, Oman; Ahmedabad and Varanasi, India; Mandalay, Myanmar; Chongqing and Nanjing, China; Phoenix, and New York City in the USA; and Seville in Spain. The final legs of the journey included a stop-over in Southern Europe or North Africa before returning to Abu Dhabi[5][9][11].
The take off speed of Solar Impulse at sea level is approximately 45 km/h, which is equivalent to about 28 mph[13]. The slowest it could go was calculated at 18 knots or 20.67 mph.
Citations
[1] https://bertrandpiccard.com/exploration/solar-impulse
[2] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/150308-solar-impulse-flight-pilot-circumnavigate-world-piccard-swiss
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/26/solar-impulse-plane-makes-history-completing-round-the-world-trip
[4] https://phys.org/news/2016-04-solar-powered-plane-journey-pacific-ocean.html
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Impulse
[6] https://aroundtheworld.solarimpulse.com/our-story/milestone-origin
[7] https://www.oxfordsaudia.com/en/blog/solar-powered-airplanes-the-history-and-future-of-solar-flights/
[8] https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/solar-impulse
[9] https://www.schindler.com/en/media/news-press-releases/solar-impulse-round-the-world-flight.html
[10] https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/07/flying-around-the-world-in-a-solar-powered-plane/493085/
[11] https://aroundtheworld.solarimpulse.com/adventure/route
[12] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/26/solar-impulse-plane-makes-history-completing-round-the-world-trip
[13] https://www.5gtechnologyworld.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-solar-impulse-2-the-sun-powered-plane/
[14] https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/39472/what-would-be-the-stall-speed-of-solar-impulse