Solar Impulse completes maiden flight

The aircraft, designed by Bertrand Piccard and his team, embarked on a two hour test flight to determine whether it could maintain a straight trajectory. Piccard told New Electronics: "Exploration is not about breaking records, but breaking preconceptions. The greater the challenge, the better the technology needed to meet it." The solar plane, which has the wingspan of a Boeing 747, landed after 90minutes in the air, having taken of from its base in western Switzerland. Prior to today's flight, the plane had only flown 60cm off the ground and no further than 300m. A further night time test will take place in the next few months and, based on the results of the test flights, a new plane will be constructed. Solar Impulse has 12,000 solar cells mounted on its wings, which supply energy to four 10hp electric motors. During daylight, solar cells charge polymer lithium batteries, allowing the aircraft to fly at night. Read an exclusive New Electronics article on the project here.