Ever wondered, If solar energy is capable of powering a plane. Yes!!! It indeed is. A new solar energy driven plane flew non stop for 3 days. It also travelled across the pacific ocean.
The aircraft is still an experimental one, Full body made of carbon fiber. It’s 200 times lighter than a Boeing 747, actual weight is 5070 pounds and it is 7 times slower than 747, can’t go faster than 90 miles per hour (Too slow). The wings are covered with solar cells (17,248 solar cells!!!) which recharges 4 batteries.
Bertrand Piccard, Andre Borschberg flew this single pilot plane turn by turn. The plane landed many times during its long journey. California was its 9th destination. The flight from Japan to Hawaii was a world record for the longest flight of a solar plane. Another record which it is broken was the longest non-stop flight by a single pilot.
On Friday (Earth Day) Piccard video called UN during flight as other countries signed “Paris Climate agreement”.
“While you are making history, we have also made history today,” U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said. “More than 175 countries signed the climate change agreement.”
“Thank you for your leadership and inspiration,” he added later. “I wish you a smooth flight. You are leading us all into an exciting new era.”
The plane has already travelled half of the world and soon it will break all records!
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