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Solar powered vehicles right form motor cycle to heavy motor vehicles like buses are being developed by the major companies to reduce the pollution and to utilize the renewable energy. But, it is certainly a brave step to develop a flight (air plane), which runs exclusively on solar energy.

A solar-powered plane developed by the firm ‘Solar Impulse’, a Swiss company has taken off from Abu Dhabi for the world tour without a drop of fuel. Solar Impulse founder and pilot André Borschberg was at the controls Monday morning. Borschberg will trade off piloting with Solar Impulse co-founder Bertrand Piccard.

Before this attempt, pilot Andre Borschberg, who is CEO of Solar Impulse, has done a commendable and uninterrupted air journey in the solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane during its first successful night flight attempt at Payerne airport. The one seater aircraft took off on July 7 at 06:51 am and reached its maximum altitude of 8,700 meters (28,543 feet) by the end of the day, he then flew at 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) and flew during the night on the batteries, which charged on-board (solar energy) during the day by 12,000 solar cells, which powered the four electric motors. The aircraft landed successfully on July 8 at 09:00 am (GMT+2), which means the flight time was 26 hours and 9 minutes, setting the longest and highest flight ever made by a solar plane.

According to the reports the company’s aim is to create awareness about replacing "old polluting technologies with clean and efficient technologies."

The flight which has taken off from Abu Dhabi (Si2 aircraft) is powered solely by the sun's energy, and is a single-seater made of carbon fiber and has 17,248 solar cells that supply the plane with renewable energy.

The innovation is definitely a major breakthrough in utilization of solar energy in aircrafts for higher altitudes and higher distances. If the technology is involved in this aircraft designing is applied to high-range of flights will reduce carbon emissions and other air pollutants. It is also recommended that developing safest and all weather flights are important to nullify the mishaps.
News Source: hindustantimes

-Kannamsai