Originally published on 1Sun4All.
Breaking News from the Solar Impulse Team via Twitter: “Due to weather considerations, the first possible RTW departure date has been postponed until March 9 2015!”
Bertrand Piccard said on his Twitter account: “I am looking forward for the weather conditions to allow us to take off.”
And Andre Borschberg added: “We are waiting for the Mission team to tell us when is the best moment to take off!”
Bertrand Piccard flew Si2 for test flights in Abu Dhabi, the description under the new #Si2 YouTube video, shown above, noted. Starting at 4:00am and ending at 9:00pm, Solar Impulse’s initiator flew three test flights successfully. The following morning Si2 was taken out of the hangar to fully recharge the batteries in the Abu Dhabi sun. You can watch the flight in this latest #INSIDER video!
The Solar Impulse team has given us some interesting facts via Twitter as we wait for the departure:
#Si2‘s solar cells are only 135 microns thin, like an average human hair!- With an efficiency of 22.7%,
#Si2‘s solar cells are more efficient than solar cells typically used on homes (16%).
The Solar Impulse team says the mobile hangar (pictured above) will be deployed during the RTW. It will be essential that Si2 is protected from the elements, even when shelter in a traditional hangar is not available. The mobile hangar will travel with the team and can be inflated within 6 hours, keeping Si2 safe from the wind and rain! A couple of days ago, the ground crew made some temperature tests with the innovative structure in Abu Dhabi.
The first flight will depart Abu Dhabi for Muscat (Muscat International Airport, MCT/OOMS) in the Sultanate of Oman. The pilot will fly the zero-fuel airplane for a distance of about 400km (215NM and 248.5 miles) for an estimated time of 12 hours. The pilot is still to be determined for this initial flight.
FYI: You may want to gear up at the very cool Solar Impulse Online Store. By proudly wearing the colors of this revolutionary solar aircraft, you will show that you share the vision of Si2 in the power of clean technologies to create a better future!
Video Credit: SOLAR IMPULSE | Photo Credit: Mobile Hangar Test in Abu Dhabi via Solar Impulse | Jean Revillard | Rezo.ch
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