The Solar Impulse 2, the world’s first solar-powered plane has made it nearly across the U.S. In April, it took off from Hawaii and made it to San Francisco, and last week landed in Pennsylvania.
The Impulse 2 broke world records last July for longest solo and solar flight. The Solar Impulse 2 first began its current journey March 9, 2015 in Abu Dhabi. During the night, the plane glides down to lower altitudes and taps into the batteries for power until the sun rises again. The plane is about as heavy as a Jeep and has wings the equivalent of an Airbus 380 that run off 17,000 solar cells. It travels at speeds from 50-100 kilometers per hour, topping out just short of a car’s freeway speeds.
The Solar Impulse team describes the trip as “the the first round-the-world solar flight, powered only by the sun, with no fuel or polluting emissions.” They go further by stating “everybody could use the plane’s technologies on the ground to halve our world’s energy consumption, save natural resources and improve our quality of life.”
Aztec Solar couldn’t agree more.
If solar can provide enough energy to fly a plane around the world, imagine what it could do for you home. If you are interested in a new solar system, make sure you contact us for a free site visit and solar need analysis, or simply give us a call with any questions you may have at 916.853.2700.