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Innovation

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

By Andy Smith April 8, 2010, 3:28 AM PDT

Image
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Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

Solar Impulse successfully completed a big step towards its goal of making the first solar-powered aircraft to circle the globe while burning no fuel and creating no pollution.

The Solar Impulse-HB-SIA leaves the ground off the Payerne airfield in Switzerland.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

The crowd watches the HB-SIA as it prepared for takeoff.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

The HB-SIA got a running escort as it taxied down the runway.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

The solar-powered plane soared 1,200 meters (almost 4,000 feet) above the Earth in its 87 minute maiden voyage.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

The HB-SIA and its source of energy.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

The HB-SIA coming in for a landing.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

Solar panels can be seen on top of the wings in this earlier demonstration.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

In order to keep the plane light, the cockpit was built to take up as little space as possible.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

“This first flight was for me a very intense moment! The HB-SIA behaved just as the flight simulator told us! Despite its immense size and feather weight, the aircraft’s controllability matches our expectations!” said Solar Impulse test pilot Markus Scherdel upon stepping down from the aircraft.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

A side view of the cockpit.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

The tail.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

The instrument panel in the cockpit.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

More of the instrument panel.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

Congratulating the pilot.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

Here’s the formal image of Solar Impulse’s plane.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

Solar Impulse’s first computer-generated models looks quite different for the test model.

Credit: Solar Impulse

Gallery: Solar airplane takes off

Another historic first flight took place at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where the Wright brothers made the first engine-powered flight.

Credit: United States Library of Congress

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