Solar Impulse has been one of the most famous applications of solar in the recent past. It is extremely unlikely that you would have missed hearing of the ambition of two fine gentlemen to circumnavigate the earth on a plane that is solely powered by solar panels. We have in the past seen how solar as an energy source can power some space vehicles as well as several homes and schools, so it is not entirely surprising the power that can be extracted from a solar plant.

The idea of solar impulse was not to prove that it was an aviation marvel but to promote green energy and use of solar. The aircraft featured solar cells on its wingspan, top of the fuselage as well as the control systems on the tail. In the process of completing its journey of over 40,000 km from Abu Dhabi and back in the process stopping over in Iran, India, China, USA etc the Solar Impulse broke several world records. The aircraft features a wingspan that is of the size of a Boeing 747, weighs almost equal to a car but has power equivalent to a bike. In the process of circumnavigating the earth, the aircraft produced a power of 11655 kWh and achieved a maximum altitude of 28,000 feet, just about 7,000 short from the cruising altitude of a jetliner.

The aircraft was piloted by two pilots in different legs and underwent several test flights and experimentations before it was fit to go around the world. In fact, did you know that before the Solar Impulse, there was another test aircraft that was created to validate the idea. You can read more on the experimental aircraft, the journey of Solar Impulse as well as about the two pilots who conceived the idea and saw their dreams come true in a much detailed writeup on Solar Impulse on MYSUN