Flying around the world without fuel.

Since Wise labs came up with a concept 1995 of fuel less and unmanned aircraft. The first manned flight of a solar-powered plane, has finally happened in November 2009. The Solar Impulse that hopes to fly around the world was just successful with its maiden voyage its a creation from a Swiss inventor. However the maiden journey of the 'Solar Impulse' was more of a "hop". The plane, which has a wingspan of a Boeing 747 but weighs less than a small car, flew 1,150 feet at an altitude of just 3ft above the ground. The prototype of the solar powered plane flew at three feet above the airfield of Duebendorf Airport in Switzerland. The Adventurer Bertrand Piccard dubbed it as the first flight for a new decade in fuel less flight a 'flea-hop' for man but a leap in aviation. He said he was thrilled as it proved the prototype can fly. 'It was absolutely great to see this plane in the air,' he said.

It's a completely new flight domain. There has never been an airplane so big and so light flying with so little energy. He compared the flight to the early test-runs by the groundbreaking Wright brothers. When Orville Wright made the first successful powered and piloted flight in history in December 1903. He was off the ground for only 12 seconds. This time around the prototype was controlled by test pilot Markus Scherdel.

Mr Piccard said the achievement was a vital step in their plan to circumnavigate the globe. With an strong Eco message was not the only goal of this long flight, but to see if this airplane is behaving the way the engineers designed it,' he said.
'And the result it is excellent. On the other hand, we see how long the road is still before we fly around the world with the first solar aircraft. 'Swiss Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg inventors of the solar powered plane "Solar Impulse" Celebrate with the test pilot Markus Scherdel after successful testing varied flights. Mr Picard plans to fly around the world to highlight the potential of alternative energy. sources solar panels will be attached next year for the first flight at night powered by solar energy, followed by a series of other tests, he said.
Piccard and co-pilot Andre Borschberg will alternate in the cockpit when they try to take the plane around the world in 2012. They will need to make varied stops to allow for pilots to switch over and stretch eat after long periods in the cramped cockpit. The plane, is part of a £70million project, it will fly all day and night using almost 12,000 solar cells with rechargeable lithium batteries and four electric motors. The Aircraft dubbed 'Solar Impulse' is prepared for it's maiden flight. On this cold morning in Switzerland These engines provide just 40 horsepower so the plane will take off at a meager 22 mph, accelerating at altitude to an average flight speed of 44 mph. Piccard set a world record in 1999 when he and Brian Jones of Britain took their balloon, Breitling Orbiter III, on a 20-day circumnavigation of the globe - an achievement that had eluded many before them, This included tycoons Steve Fossett and Richard Branson. Wise Labs hopes this solar-powered flight will raise awareness of alternative energy sources. More on saber engine's by Wise Labs and concept safety features, when there no fuel or engine stop happens fuel less technology like this can be Incorporated into aircraft such as a Boeing 747.