The Dhaka Times Desk Scientists are looking for alternative fuel systems due to the lack of energy reserves on Earth. Solar power has been growing in popularity as an alternative energy system for several years. Now Switzerland has developed an airplane that runs on solar power.
"Solar Impulse 2" is a solar-powered aircraft that can travel around the world. Its wingspan is about 72 meters which is more than a Boeing 747 jumbo aircraft. Weight is about 2.3 metric tons, due to the heavy weight it has a low speed of about 140 km/h. As a result, it will take five days to travel around the world.
It could theoretically travel through the endless sky. Because the fuel it needs to travel will come from the sun, so it doesn't have to come down for fuel. But it is not contemplating such a move as per aviation rules for passenger aircraft. Google last year envisioned such a hovercraft to roll out high-speed internet.
Its interior arrangement is quite eye-catching as it has business class seating arrangement. Internet access with every seat. All other facilities are available like other aircraft. With three percent of the world's total carbon dioxide emissions coming from aviation fuel, “Solar Impulse 2” will pioneer alternative fueled aviation to reduce global warming. It is a new horizon in green aviation. Solar Impulse batteries are very powerful. There are about 17200 solar cells on the wings of the aircraft. The solar energy obtained from here is used in aircraft engines.
The initial flight of this aircraft will begin next year. It will start its journey by orbiting the Earth. According to calculations, this circumambulation will take about 20 days. However, it will conduct test flights in May-June this year. The main initiators of this plan are Vytra Parker and Andre Bershberg. Earlier they had built Solar Impulse 1. Abandoned due to its many flaws, the new Solar Impulse attempts to eliminate the old flaws. Meanwhile, last Friday the aircraft started its first international journey in the sunshine. The plane flew from Switzerland to Brussels at a speed of about 50 km/h at an altitude of 3600 m.
Reference: Deutsche Welle
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