This Solar-Powered Plane Will Be Flying Around The World [VIDEO]

A new aircraft called the Solar Impulse 2 was unveiled in Switzerland on 9 April. In 2015 its creators plan to circumnavigate globe in the plane.

The Solar Impulse 2’s 72m wingspan is longer than a Boeing 747’s, and is fitted with 17,248 solar cells that power the plane. The planned journey in 2015 will take about three months. While the plane can theoretically fly indefinitely, the pilots can’t.

Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, two of the founders of the Solar Impulse project, will pilot the solar-powered plane on its round the world journey in shifts as there is only room for one at a time. The Solar Impulse 2 isn’t exactly the fastest thing around, with a max speed of 140km/h. Thus the 2.3 ton plane will be required to be airborne for at least five days at a time.

The Solar Impulse 2 is expected to undergo testing in May and June.

[ Source : YouTube , TIME ]

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