Aircraft range has been a problem since the Wright Brothers, usually meaning too much mission for the fuel aboard. But after last week’s first flight of the sunlight-powered SolarStratos, range problems just might be headed for a permanent solution.
SolarStratos Makes Successful First Flight
Key Takeaways:
- The SolarStratos is a new Swiss sunlight-powered electric aircraft designed to overcome traditional aircraft range limitations, potentially enabling continuous, multi-day flight.
- It leverages solar panels across its 82-foot wingspan to power a 32 kW electric motor, aiming for 24-hour flight endurance and an estimated 90% efficiency.
- Following its initial short flight, the aircraft's ambitious goal is to reach the edge of the stratosphere (82,000 feet), requiring pilots to wear spacesuits in the unpressurized cabin due to extreme cold and without a parachute option.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
