14 DAY TRIAL // Greenheads will be glad to hear that, in an attempt to promote a more environmentally friendly transportation industry, a solar-powered plane is to soon fly across the United States.
The sun-powered plane, known as Solar Impulse, is to carry just one pilot, the people behind this project explain.
Although it is fully capable of traveling the distance between Moffett Field in Mountain View and New York without ever having to stop, the plane and its pilot are to take the time to pay one quick visit to several American cities they will meet along the way.
Some of these cities are Phoenix, Dallas and Washington DC, sources say.
By the looks of it, the plane's making these stops has everything to do with promoting sustainability and green-oriented technologies.
While talking to members of the press, pilot Bertrand Piccard argued that “It [the plane] carries one pilot and zero passengers, but it carries a lot of messages. We want to inspire as many people as possible to have that same spirit: to dare, to innovate, to invent,” the pilot went on to argue.”
Backing up his statements, the team who helped design and manufacture the Solar Impulse argued that “Only by challenging common certitudes can there be change and, through conferences on educational themes, Solar Impulse wishes to motivate everybody to become a pioneer in the search for innovative solutions for society’s biggest challenges.”
Despite its tipping the scales at a mere 1,600 kilograms (about 3,500 lbs.), the plane has wings which expand over a distance of 64.3 meters (roughly 193 feet).
Specialists explain that the solar cells on which this plane depends in order to complete this journey are built inside its wings.
The sun energy these cells harvest is used to provide the power needed in order to operate a total of four electrical motors, the people who designed the plane further explain.
Should things go as planned, the Solar Impulse will take off from Moffett Field in Mountain View this coming May 1.