Testing Solar Impulse 2 in Advance of Maiden Flight (VIDEO)

Originally published on 1Sun4All.

Imagine energy reserves increasing during flight! To make this dream a reality, we had to make maximum use of every single watt supplied by the sun, and store it in our batteries. We tracked down every possible source of energy efficiency. Today, Solar Impulse is the first solar airplane flying through night and day, the first aircraft to come close to perpetual flight. —André Borschberg

Challenge #1: Energy to Cross Oceans & Continents

The Solar Impulse team has released the latest video about its preparations for the solar airplane’s maiden flight. We expect that first flight to take place in the next couple of weeks, and we’ll have the news for you as soon as it’s released. In the meantime, we can learn about what the team is doing to put the aircraft through the requisite ground tests. From running-up the engines to testing the GPS reception, every system on the solar airplane is thoroughly verified. I’ve also included below some very cool data from the Solar Impulse website about building Si2; enjoy.

Testing Solar Impulse 2, #Insider

Tests are being performed by our team to prepare Solar Impulse 2 for it’s #FirstFlight in the coming weeks. Meet Ralph, our Co-Lead Flight Tests who explains what will happen next.

Data: Building a Solar Airplane

The Solar Impulse project in numbers:

• 12 years of feasibility study, concept, design and construction
• 50 engineers and technicians
• 80 technological partners
• more than 100 advisers and suppliers
• 1 prototype (Solar Impulse 1, registered as HB-SIA)
• 1 final airplane (Solar Impulse 2, registered as HB-SIB)

Screen view of the technical drawings of Solar Impulse 2, Si2 | © Solar Impulse | Click here or on the image to visit the website and view the larger drawing

Get more information about the project: solarimpulse.com