The big debut of “Solar Impulse 2” has arrived. The aircraft – powered by 17,248 solar cells spread across its wings and body – is the successor of Solar Impulse, which flew across the U.S. last summer in about two months’ time. Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, Swiss pilots and co-founders of the project, unveiled their new aircraft today, a year ahead of their planned round-the-world flight, according to Agence France-Presse. Solar Impulse 2 is a bigger, better version of its predecessor, Borschberg told officials, reeling off the new aircraft’s statistics: The new plane has a wingspan of about 236…
Browsing: Bertrand Piccard
Dr. Donald Erbschloe, Air Mobility Command chief scientist, and Col. Keith Boone, AMC Fuel Efficiency Division chief, spoke with Tahan Pangaribuan, Solar Impulse flight director assistant yesterday. Solar Impulse is currently hanging out at the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport where it landed June 4. A solar-powered airplane, the project began in 2003 with a 10-year budget of 90 million euros ($112 million). Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, Swiss pilots and co-founders of the project, take turns flying the plane. It is the first attempt to fly across the United States using no fuel but the sun’s energy. Developers hope to…
