Solar Impulse
| Solar Impulse | |
|---|---|
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| HB-SIA made its first "flea hop" test flight on 3 December 2009, in Dübendorf. | |
| Role | Experimental solar powered aircraft |
| National origin | Switzerland |
| Manufacturer | Solar Impulse Project |
| First flight | 3 December 2009 |
Solar Impulse is a Swiss long-range solar powered plane project being undertaken at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. The project eventually hopes to succeed in the first circling of the earth with a piloted fixed-wing aircraft using only solar power. The project is promoted by Bertrand Piccard, who co-piloted the first balloon to circle the world non-stop.[1]
The first aircraft, bearing the Swiss aircraft registration code of HB-SIA, is a single-seater, capable of taking off under its own power, and intended to remain airborne up to 36 hours.[2] This aircraft first flew an entire diurnal solar cycle, including nearly 9 hours of night flying, in a 26-hour flight on 7–8 July 2010.[3] Building on the experience of this prototype, a slightly larger follow-on design (HB-SIB) is planned to make circumnavigation of the globe in 20–25 days.[4]
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[edit] Design and development
Piccard initiated the Solar Impulse project in 2003. Since then, the team has grown to a multi-disciplinary team of 50 specialists from six countries, assisted by about 100 outside advisers.[5]
The project is financed by private companies. The four main partners are Deutsche Bank, Omega SA, Solvay, and Schindler[6]. Other partners include Bayer MaterialScience, Altran and Swisscom. Supporters include Clarins, Semper, Toyota, BKW, STG. The EPFL, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Dassault provide additional technical expertise.[7]
- Achieved timeline
- 2003: Feasibility study at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
- 2004–2005: Development of the concept.
- 2006: Simulation of long-haul flights.
- 2006–09: First prototype (HB-SIA).
- 2009: First flight of prototype.
- 2009–11: Manned test flights with prototype.
- Planned timeline
- 2011: Build of second prototype (HB-SIB)
- 2011–12: Test flights
- 2012: Lasting days missions and crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.[5]
- 2013: Attempt of world tour in several stages, esentially in the north hemisphere.[5]
[edit] Prototype aircraft (HB-SIA)
With a non-pressurized cockpit and a limited flight ceiling, this is a demonstrator design.
The plane has a similar wingspan to the Airbus A340. Under the wing are four nacelles, each with a set of lithium polymer batteries, a 10 hp (7.5 kW) motor and a twin-bladed propeller. To keep the wing as light as possible, a customised carbon fibre honeycomb sandwich structure is used.[8]
11,628 photovoltaic cells on the upper wing surface and the horizontal stabilizer generate electricity during the day. These both propel the plane and charge the batteries to allow flight at night, theoretically enabling the single-seat plane to stay in the air indefinitely.[9][10] The first manned flight over night lasted about 26 hours in July 2010.
The major design constraint of the project is the capacity of the lithium polymer batteries. Over 24 hours, in the best conditions, the power train will deliver an average of 8 hp (6 kW), roughly the power used by the Wright brothers' Flyer in 1903.[8] As well as charge stored in the batteries, the aircraft uses the potential energy of height gained during the day for night flight.[11]
[edit] Maiden flight
On 26 June 2009, the Solar Impulse was first presented to the public in Dübendorf, Switzerland. Following taxi testing, a short-hop test flight was made on 3 December 2009.[12] The pilot was Markus Scherdel.[13] André Borschberg, co-leader of the project team, said: "It was an unbelievable day. The airplane flew for about 350 metres (1,150 ft) and about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) above the ground ... The aim was not to get high but to land on the same runway at a speed to test its controllability and get a first feeling of its flying characteristics." He added that, "the craft behaved just as the engineers had hoped. It is the end of the engineering phase and the start of the flight testing phase."[13]
[edit] Further flights
On 7 April 2010 the HB-SIA underwent an extended 87 minute test flight piloted by Markus Scherdel. In contrast to earlier tests, the April flight reached an altitude of 1,200 m (3,937 ft).[14][15]
The aircraft first flew on purely solar power, charging its batteries in flight, on 28 May 2010.[16]
[edit] First overnight flight
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Wikinews has related news: Solar-powered plane completes 26-hour flight |
On 8 July 2010, HB-SIA achieved the world's first manned 26-hour solar flight.[17][18][19] The airplane was flown by André Borschberg and took off at 6:51 a.m. Central European Summer Time (UTC+2) on 7 July from an airfield in Payerne, Switzerland. It returned for a landing the following morning at 9:00 a.m. local time.[20] The plane reached a maximum altitude of 8,700 m (28,500 ft) during its flight.[21] The flight was the longest and highest flight by a manned solar-powered aircraft, records officially recognized by the FAI in October 2010.[22][23]
[edit] First international flights
On 13 May 2011, at approximately 21:30 local time, HB-SIA landed at Brussels (Zaventem) airport, after having completed a flight from its home base in Switzerland. It was the first international flight by the Solar Impulse, at an average altitude of 6,000 ft (1,829 m) during the 13-hour flight, for a distance of 630 km (391 mi), with an average speed of 50 km/h (31 mph). The aircraft's slow cruising speed required operating at a mid-altitude, that allowed much faster air traffic to be routed around it.[24] The pilot was Solar Impulse co-founder Andre Borschberg. The project's other co-founder, Bertrand Piccard, said in an interview after the landing: "Our goal is to create a revolution in the minds of people...to promote solar energies -- not necessarily a revolution in aviation."[25][26] A second international flight to the Paris Air Show was attempted on 12 June 2011, but the plane turned back half-way and landed back in Brussels, where it had taken off, due to the weather conditions. [27] In a second attempt, the solar plane HB-SIA, with pilot André Borschberg, landed in Paris Le Bourget on Tuesday 14 June at 9:15 pm after an 16:05 hours long flight. [28]
[edit] Planned second aircraft (HB-SIB)
HB-SIB is the Swiss registration code borne by the second Solar Impulse aeroplane. The aircraft is planned for completion in 2011, with a pressurized cockpit and advanced avionics to allow for transcontinental and trans-oceanic flights.[5]
The wingspan of HB-SIB will be 80.0 m (262.5 ft), slightly wider than the 79.75 m (261.6 ft) wingspan of an Airbus A380, the largest passenger airliner in the world.[29]
The cockpit will include cabin pressurization, supplemental oxygen and various environmental support to the pilot to allow a cruise altitude of 12,000 metres (39,000 ft).[29]
The team hopes that a round-the-world flight will be possible in 2012. The flight would circle the world in the northern hemisphere near the equator. Five stops are planned to change pilots. Each leg will last three to four days, limited by the physiology of the human pilot.[5]
Once improved battery efficiency makes it possible to reduce the weight, a two-seater is envisaged to make a non-stop circumnavigation.[5]
[edit] Specifications (HB-SIA)
Data from Solar Impulse Project[8] and Diaz[29]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Payload: Lithium-ion batteries: 450 kg, (capacity: 200 Wh/kg = 90 kWh)
- Length: 21.85 m (71.7 ft)
- Wingspan: 63.4 m (208 ft)
- Height: 6.40 m (21.0 ft)
- Wing area: 11,628 photovoltaic cells: 200 m2 (2,200 sq ft)
- Loaded weight: 1600 kg (3,500 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 2000 kg (4,400 lb)
- Powerplant: 4 × electric motors, 7.5 kW (10 HP) each
- Take-off speed: 35 kilometres per hour (22 mph)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph)
- Endurance: 36 hours (projected)
- Service ceiling: 8,500 m (27,900 ft) with a maximum altitude of 12,000 metres (39,000 ft)
[edit] See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
[edit] References
- ^ FAI entry of the 1999 record
- ^ Solar Impulse Project. "HB-SIA Mission". http://www.solarimpulse.com/en/documents/hbsia_mission.php?lang=en&group=hbsia. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- ^ Swiss solar plane makes history with night flight, Swisster, 2010-07-08, accessed 2010-07-13.
- ^ Amos, Jonathan (26 June 2009). "Round-the-world solar plane debut". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8120026.stm. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Solar Impulse Project. "The main stages of the project". http://www.solarimpulse.com/common/documents/challenge_stages.php?lang=en&group=challenge. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- ^ Piccard, Bertrand. "Solar Impulse gets a lift !". http://www.solarimpulse.com/blog/2011/03/21/solar-impulse-gets-a-lift%C2%A0/. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ Solar Impulse Project. "Partners,Financing Structure". http://www.solarimpulse.com/common/documents/partner.php?lang=en&group=partner. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
- ^ a b c Solar Impulse Project. "HB-SIA file". http://www.solarimpulse.com/pdf/hb-sia/hb-sia_en.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- ^ Engeler, Eliane (8 July 2010). "Solar plane lands after completing 24-hour flight". Associated Press. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5goDxf8Obh9y8tOk6Nse1GMEmSXWgD9GQNU181. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ Solar Impulse Project (undated). "Plane". http://www.solarimpulse.com/common/documents/challenge_solar.php?lang=en&group=challenge. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
- ^ "Description of HB-SIA at Solarimpulse.com". Solarimpulse.com. 2010-06-22. http://www.solarimpulse.com/common/documents/blog.php?lang=en&group=media&id=105&comment=visible. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
- ^ Palmer, Jason (3 December 2009). "Record solar plane's first 'hop'". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8393688.stm. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
- ^ a b Tom Simonite (3 December 2009). "Solar-powered piloted plane makes its first 'flea hop'". Web Edition. New Scientist. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18233-solarpowered-piloted-plane-makes-its-first-flea-hop.html. Retrieved 2009-12-05.
- ^ "Swiss team makes 1st test flight of prototype for round-the-world solar flight". Latimes.com. 2010-07-01. http://www.latimes.com/technology/sns-ap-eu-switzerland-solar-adventure,0,3199191.story. Retrieved 2010-07-09.[dead link]
- ^ Previous post Next post (7 April 2010). "Solar Airplane Completes Maiden Voyage". Wired.com. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/04/solar-airplane-completes-maiden-voyage. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
- ^ Grady, Mary (May 2010). "Solar Impulse Flies On Pure Sunlight". http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/SolarImpulseFliesOnPureSunlight_202647-1.html. Retrieved 03 June 2010.
- ^ Maron, Dina Fine (6 July 2010). "Swiss Team to Launch Solar Night Flight". The New York Times. ClimateWire. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/07/06/06climatewire-swiss-team-to-launch-solar-night-flight-9738.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ "Solar Impulse completes record-breaking flight". The Daily Telegraph (London). 8 July 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/solarpower/7878526/Solar-Impulse-completes-record-breaking-flight.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ Paur, Jason (7 July 2010). "Solar Airplane to Fly Through the Night (Tonight!)". Wired News. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/07/solar-airplane-to-fly-through-the-night-tonight. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ van Loon, Jeremy (8 July 2010). "Solar-Powered Plane Lands Safely After Overnight Flight". BusinessWeek. http://news.businessweek.com/article.asp?documentKey=1377-a4lM164962iU-6B58GM9T9AIUVKONT5V3EIC6KO. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ "Solar-powered plane lands safely after 26-hour flight". BBC News. 8 July 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10550430.stm. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ Alan Cowell (8 July 2010). "Solar-Powered Plane Flies for 26 Hours". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/09/world/europe/09plane.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ "The FAI ratifies Solar Impulse's World Records". http://www.fai.org/news-of-records/35101-the-fai-ratifies-solar-impulses-world-records. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
- ^ http://www.planet-techno-science.com/ciel-et-espace/solar-impulse-premier-vol-international-reussi-pour-lavion-solaire/
- ^ Osha Gray Davidson (13 May 2011). "Solar-Powered Airplane Makes Historic Flight". Forbes.com. http://blogs.forbes.com/oshadavidson/2011/05/13/breaking-solar-airplane-about-to-make-historic-landing.html. Retrieved 13 May 2011}.
- ^ Niles, Russ (May 2011). "Solar Impulse Crosses Border". AvWeb. http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Solar_Impulse_Crosses_Borders_204657-1.html. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ^ "A setback for Solar Impulse: the solar plane favours safety and heads back to Brussels". June 2011. http://www.solarimpulse.com/common/documents/news_affich.php?lang=en&group=news&IdArticle=90. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ Marisa, Krystian (June 2011). "Solar Impulse Plane: A Rare Treat For Crowds in Paris". http://tv.ibtimes.com/solar-impulse-plane-a-rare-treat-for-crowds-in-paris/890.html. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
- ^ a b c Diaz, Jesus (May 23, 2007). "Solar Impulse: Around the World in a 100% Sun-powered Airplane". Gixmodo. http://gizmodo.com/262940/solar-impulse-around-the-world-in-a-100-sun+powered-airplane. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
[edit] External links
- Solar Impulse Web site
- How does Solar Impulse work? How It Works magazine - 2011-05-13
- Record-attempting solar powered plane's first 'hop' BBC News (video) 2009-12-04
- Solar Impulse plane starts 24-hour test flight BBC News (video) 2010-07-07
- Video of April 2010 flight
- Article about solar impulse
- Article on the SolarImpulse project
- Article about the solar impulse and the revolution in flight
- Solar Impulse: The Endless Flight – slideshow by Life magazine
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