Solar Impulse - 100% Solar Aircraft

Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, have embarked on the first Round-The-World Solar Flight, powered only by the sun, with no fuel or polluting emissions. The Solar Impulse arrived in Phoenix this week from San Francisco (having traveled from Nagoya, Japan to Hawaii, piloted by André Borschberg, over 5 days and 5 nights (8924 km). Then it flew from Hawaii to San Francisco (Bertrand Piccard was piloting), over 2-1/2 days and 4086 km. The San Francisco to Phoenix flight took 16 hours and covered 1113 km. André Borschberg was flying.

The wingspan of the plane is the same as a Boeing 747 (236 ft). It weighs about 5,070 lbs. There are 17,248 solar cells. The maximum power (with 4 engines) is 17.4 hp. The maximum air speed is 49 kts. It can cruise at up to 27,000 ft.

It was a sight to see! A once-in-a-lifetime event.

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