Solar Plane Ready for First International Flight

The Solar Impulse will be making history next month when it flies from Belgium to France. The Solar Impulse, a solar-powered plane built by a team of Swiss adventurers, is slowly overcoming obstacles to become the first solar powered plane to make an around the world trip.

The Solar Impulse team says that the main challenge to this flight isn’t necessarily the distance, but the logistics required to fly across international air traffic networks.

The plane is schedule to take off on May 2nd and fly to Brussels. If that journey is successful, the Solar Impulse will continue to Paris where it will be showcased at the 49th International Paris Air Show from June 20-26.

The Solar Impulse team has been testing their communication system over the last several weeks.

Bertrand Piccard, inventor of the Solar Impulse, said:

“These tests have been extremely successful. Now, here we are in the definitive phase: it’s no longer a question of tests, but the real thing. And the next flights will not be made in the “familiar cocoon” of Payerne aerodrome, but in the whole of Europe…”

Andre Borschberg, who will fly the Solar Impulse between Payerne and Brussels, said:

“We will be in stand-by mode from Monday. And we definitely mean to take the first opportunity that comes along, since we can never be sure of the weather conditions and whether they will allow us to do this flight on a particular date. With Solar Impulse we are confined to what we can do with the technology at the present time, and safety is our number one priority.”

[Source: Solar Impulse]