Solar Plane- Impulse

Hey Internet... Hope you guys liked our other posts.
So we are back with another interesting topic.
I guess all of you have  traveled in or atleast seen an aeroplane. We  know that it runs on diesel or kerosene. But have anyone of you seen a plane run on solar energy.
Yes, you heard it right. 

Solar Plane

The Americans have made a new discovery of a solar plane that completely relies on solar energy and does not use any fossil fuels { Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene etc.
 So read on.....

Solar Impulse Landing

The Solar Impulse {HB-SIA} is a long and wide aircraft that completely depends on solar energy. It took over a decade to complete the design and concept of solar plane. This actually means that when we were thinking of using solar lights or solar energy driven equipment ,the concept of solar plane raised in the imaginations.

Structure Of The Impulse 

There are 4 nacelles{Nacelle:- It a device that holds the engine, fuel etc.}under its wing. Each nacelle has a set of lithium-polymer batteries that have power of around 7.5 kW{kilowatt}. 

 The Impulse also has a motor and a propeller with two blades.To keep the wing as light as possible, a customised carbon fibre honeycomb structure is used.

Working Of Impulse

There are 11,628 photovoltaic cells on the upper wing surface and the horizontal stabilizer that help in generating electricity during the day. These both propel the plane and charge its batteries to allow flight at night. enabling the single-seat plane to stay in the air indefinitely.

The Flight

The solar-powered aircraft making a landmark cross-country flight successfully completed its first leg early Saturday, and will rest about a week in Arizona before taking to the skies again.

Captain and Crew Members

Solar Impulse HB-SIA touched down about 12:30 a.m. at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. 

The picture above shows the pilot, Bertrand Piccard, raising his hands and telling everyone that this invention was a grand success.

The plane travels at 43 mph and cruises at a maximum altitude of 28,000 feet. The 18-hour opening leg from Moffett Federal Airfield near San Francisco included a pass over the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Solar Impulse will be stationed in Phoenix until Thursday. After Phoenix, the expedition will head to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, then on to Lambert-St Louis International Airport in Missouri, Dulles International Airport near Washington, and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Hope to be back with more interesting stuff. Till then Sayonara.You can let me know in the comments what you think of this article and if any queries exist.