| With concerns about a finite supply of fossil fuels | | | | sun’s energy and multiple DC electric motors. |
| and the environmental impacts of gas guzzling | | | | NASA’s research into solar-powered flight is |
| jets driving them forward, researchers are | | | | hoped to advance scientific studies into such |
| working on airplanes that will remove the carbon | | | | things as volcanoes and weather. Exploration of |
| footprint involved with flying. Designed to operate | | | | Mars is also on the agenda. |
| using solar power, these machines may just be | | | | The Solar Impulse – This $94-million |
| the wave of the future. | | | | machine is under development by Bertrand and |
| Those who think solar-powered planes are a pipe | | | | Co. The plane will be flown by the world-famous |
| dream need to think again. There are operational | | | | Bertrand Piccard, who made a name for himself |
| prototypes already in use. There are also other | | | | with an around-the-world balloon flight in 1999. The |
| prototypes under development. Although they are | | | | Impulse has a carbon-fiber body and weighs in at |
| far from perfected, these machines are proving | | | | a light 3,300 pounds. Its plans were unveiled during |
| there is an alternative worthy of exploration. | | | | the 2005 Paris Air Show. A test flight for the |
| While it might be some time before commercial | | | | 201-foot plane is anticipated soon with a target |
| jets trade in their gasoline for solar panels, the | | | | transatlantic flight set for 2011. This plane has |
| technology is moving ahead. Examples of the | | | | been designed to fly for up to 36 hours at an |
| prototypes out there include: | | | | altitude of up to 27,000 feet. If successful, the |
| HELIOS – This solar-powered plane | | | | Impulse would top other solar flyers as far as |
| was created as part of NASA’s ERAST | | | | efficiency goes by quite a bit. Using batteries to |
| program. Developed in conjunction with | | | | store solar power, it would be able to fly during |
| AeroVironment of California, the plane had its | | | | both day and nighttime hours. Currently, the best |
| maiden flight in 2001. Although HELIOS was slow | | | | solar plane can only handle about eight hours of |
| moving, slower than a bicycle, in fact, it did show | | | | daytime flight. To make sure the Impulse project |
| promise. The plane reached a height of more than | | | | is successful; Piccard has brought in a team of |
| 30,000 meters and was operational using a | | | | roughly 150 designers to work out the kinks. |
| remote control. HELIOS was the outgrowth of | | | | While solar-power planes are not ready to take |
| other NASA-backed projects for fuel efficient | | | | over at airports around the world, this technology |
| planes. In 1979, the Goassamer Albatross flew | | | | is moving ahead. Someday, it is possible the sun |
| across the English Channel using human power and | | | | will provide all the power necessary for people to |
| a DC battery pack. By 1998, the solar-powered | | | | trek around the world at jet speeds. |
| Pathfinder took to the skies relying on the | | | | |