Solar Globetrotting

Image:  Solar Impulse

These days it seems that no one can resist showing off their fancy new alternative fuel vehicle. I posted a little while ago about an electric car race around the world.  Now it seems we have a similar situation, only this time via solar airplane.

The team attempting this feat is Solar Impulse. Flow first covered their adventures in April 2010, when they took the plane for a test drive. Their plans back then for an around the world journey in 2012 are still on track. So far their solar plane has been the first to complete an intercontinental flight.  With this prototype’s success they are designing a new plane to circle the globe. These planes run day and night powered solely by the sun.  It really is a marvel of modern technology, and something that should by followed by any solar fan, or any fan of technology for that matter.

I first found this story through National Geographic, which has an excellent selection of pictures from the missions, and some brief information. For a more in depth look at the project, including some amazing pictures and even video from the flight deck, check out the Solar Impulse website.