This morning the Solar Impulse airplane embarked upon the next leg of its sun-powered journey across the United States. The solar-powered giant has already traveled from the San Francisco Bay Area to Arizona, and at 5am it took off from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport en route to Dallas. The record-breaking flight marks a pivotal point in the team’s attempt to be the first to fly across the the country without using a single drop of fuel.

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Departs for Dallas on Second Leg of Sun-Powered Flight Across America

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: Andre Borscberg, Andre Borscberg Solar Impulse, bertrand piccard, Bertrand Piccard Solar Impulse, energy efficient plane, fuel-free plane, lightweight airplane, renewable energy sources, solar impulse, Solar Impulse Cross America 2013, solar panels, Solar Power, solar powered aircraft, solar powered plane

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: "sustainable energy", alternative energy, Andre Borschberg, bertrand piccard, California, fuel-free airplane, green transportation, HB-SIA, moffett air filed, mountain view, NASA Ames Research Center, photovoltaic panels, renewable energy, solar impulse, solar impulse across america, Solar Power, solar powered airplane, sun-powered plane, world's first solar plane

The Solar Impulse just completed its final test flight before it travels across the U.S. without using a single drop of fuel. The plane spent most of yesterday cruising around 3,500 feet over the San Francisco Bay, giving many people a chance to see the giant solar aircraft in action. The “Cross America 2013” tour is scheduled to kick off next Wednesday, May 1st, when Solar Impulse co-founder and pilot Bertrand Piccard embarks upon the first leg of the journey from San Francisco to New York.

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Completes Final Test Flight Over San Francisco Before its Sun-Powered Journey Across America

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: "solar energy", bertrand piccard, energy efficient plane, fuel-free airplane, lightweight airplane, renewable energy sources, solar impulse, Solar Impulse Cross America 2013, Solar Impulse HB-SIA, solar panels, solar powered aircraft, solar powered plane

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Airplane to Launch First Sun-Powered Flight Across America!

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: "sustainable energy", alternative energy, Andre Borschberg, bertrand piccard, California, fuel-free airplane, green transportation, HB-SIA, moffett air filed, mountain view, NASA Ames Research Center, photovoltaic panels, renewable energy, solar impulse, solar impulse across america, Solar Power, solar powered airplane, sun-powered plane, world's first solar plane

Australian pilot Jeremy Rowsell is set to break new boundaries for alternative energy by flying from Australia to Britain in an airplane powered entirely by plastic waste. Rowsell’s “Wings of Waste” Cessna plane will fly from Sydney to London via Asia, the Middle East, and Europe using fuel refined from “end-of-life” materials such as plastic bags and other refuse that would otherwise wind up in landfills.

Read the rest of Plastic Waste-Powered Airplane to Fly 10,500 Miles from Sydney to London

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: aviation fuel, Cessna, hydrocarbons, jeremy rowsell, landfill, pacific garbage patch, plastic bags, plastic recycling, pyrolysis, solar impulse

Flights across the U.S. have become quite commonplace since Calbraith Perry Rodgers completed the first one ever back in 1911, but now a new group of aviation pioneers wants to attempt the same feat with a decidedly more difficult twist thrown in – they can’t use any fuel except for the power of the sun. The Solar Impulse team, led by Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, announced last night that it will be taking its solar-powered plane to the skies this summer on a transcontinental flight from San Francisco to New York. If successful, the trip would be the first solar-powered, cross-America flight in history.

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Team to Attempt First Ever Solar-Powered Cross-U.S.A Flight in History

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: Andre Borscheberg, bertrand piccard, green air travel, green airplane, green transportation, solar airplane, solar impulse, solar impulse fly across united states, Solar Impulse HB-SIA plane, Solar Impulse HB-SIB plane, solar impulse us flight, solar impulse us trip, Solar Power, solar powered aircraft, solar powered plane, solar powered transportation

SolarWorld and PC-Aero‘s Elektra One Solar Plane harnesses energy from the sun to help it fly with zero-emissions. We covered the maiden flight of the solar plane in the past, and Elektra One just debuted an awesome new accessory at the ILA Berlin Air Show – a mobile electric charging station that represents a major step forward for the the aircraft’s goals of zero emission flying and energy autonomy.

Read the rest of Elektra One Solar Plane Now Comes With its Own Photovoltaic Charging Trailer

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: "solar energy", aero-pic, elektra one solar plane, mobile electric charging station, solar aircraft, solar impulse, solar plane, Solar Power, SolarWorld

Following the completion of the world’s first solar-powered intercontinental flight, the Solar Impulse airplane has returned home to Switzerland. After flying for 6,700 miles over four countries and two continents, the solar-powered airplane piloted by Bertrand Piccard just made its final landing in Payerne.

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Airplane Returns Home After World’s First Solar-Powered Intercontinental Flight

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: bertrand piccard, green airplane, green transportation, solar impulse, Solar Impulse HB-SIA plane, Solar Impulse HB-SIB plane, Solar Power, solar powered plane

Late last night the Solar Impulse successfully completed the world’s first solar-powered intercontinental flight! After taking off from Spain, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg piloted their Solar Impulse airplane over 515 miles to their destination in Rabat, Morocco. “This flight marks a new stage in the history of the project because we have reached another continent. Furthermore, after almost 20 hours of flight, we landed with a full set of batteries. This is extraordinary as it represents an increase in confidence in new technologies,” said André Borschberg as the Solar Impulse landed on the runway.

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Completes World’s First Solar-Powered Intercontinental Flight!

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: Andre Borschberg, bertrand piccard, green plane, green transportation, Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy, solar impulse, Solar Power, solar powered plane

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Airplane to Attempt World’s First Solar-Powered Intercontinental Flight Today!

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: Andre Borscheberg, bertrand piccard, green air travel, green transportation, solar airplane, solar impulse, Solar Power, solar powered aircraft, solar powered transportation

For the first time ever, a solar plane will attempt to fly from Switzerland to Morocco. Back in 2011 Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg flew their Solar Impulse plane from Paris to Brussels, however the plane’s latest journey will travel even further – the plane will attempt to travel over 1,550 miles without using a drop of fuel.

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Sun-Powered Plane Will Attempt to Fly from Switzerland to Morocco

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: "solar energy", airplane, Andre Borschberg, bertrand piccard, solar airplane, solar impulse, solar impulse solar plane, Solar Power

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Airplane Makes Public Debut at Paris Air Show

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: france solar powered plane, Paris Air Show, solar impulse, solar impulse paris, solar impulse paris air show, Solar Power, solar power cells, solar powered plane

The totally solar powered Solar Impulse aircraft made its maiden international flight across Europe today, piloted by Andre Borschberg. Slowly but surely, the aircraft flew from western Switzerland and over France and Luxembourg, to an airport in Brussels, Belgium. The Solar Impulse was first tested last summer, with a successful flight circling the skies above Switzerland.

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Sun-Powered Plane Successfully Completes First International Flight

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: Andrew Borschberg, green transportation, Le Bourget Air Show, solar impulse, solar plane, Solar Power, Switzerland

The Solar Impulse solar plane, which in 2010 demonstrated it could harvest enough energy by day to stay aloft all night, will soon take its first international flight. The team will be headed by Bertrand Piccard, the man who piloted the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight, and will leave from Brussels on May 2nd.

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Plane Prepares for First International Flight

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: alternative transportation, bertrand piccard, green transportation, solar impulse, solar plane

We here at Inhabitat are huge fans of the Solar Impulse, an incredible zero emission aircraft powered by 12,000 solar cells located on its wings. Over the last year we’ve cheered this stellar solar plane on through its impressive trials –  from its first flight to its first ascent out into the night sky – but little did we know that the best was yet to come. In its latest challenge, the Solar Impulse is performing a lengthy, landmark tour of its fine home country of Switzerland, even sharing the same airspace as other commercial aircrafts!

Read the rest of The Solar Impulse Undertakes an Incredible Trans-Switzerland Flight

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: solar impulse, solar impulse first flight, solar impulse inhabitat, solar impulse night flight, solar impulse solar plane, solar impulse switzerland

]]> http://inhabitat.com/the-solar-impulse-undertakes-an-incredible-trans-switzerland-flight/feed/ 2 http://inhabitat.com/boeings-solar-powered-spy-plane-could-fly-for-five-years-straight/ http://inhabitat.com/boeings-solar-powered-spy-plane-could-fly-for-five-years-straight/#comments Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:00:34 +0000 Cameron Scott http://inhabitat.com/?p=163621
Political correctness aside, Boeing's proposed solar-powered spy plane is really freakin' cool: the company says the plane it's building for the DOD will be able to fly unmanned for five years straight. Not unlike the Solar Impulse, Boeing's SolarEagle will]]>

Political correctness aside, Boeing’s proposed solar-powered spy plane is really freakin’ cool: the company says the plane it’s building for the DOD will be able to fly unmanned for five years straight. Not unlike the Solar Impulse, Boeing’s SolarEagle will feature hyper-efficient electric motors and propellers and long wings covered in solar cells that store energy by day to achieve constant flight.

Read the rest of Boeing’s Solar Spy Plane Could Fly for Five Years Straight

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: aeronautics, aircraft, airplanes, boeing, darpa, solar impulse, solar powered aircraft, solareagle, U.S. Military

]]> http://inhabitat.com/boeings-solar-powered-spy-plane-could-fly-for-five-years-straight/feed/ 0 http://inhabitat.com/solar-impulse-plane-prepares-for-switzerland-test-flights/ http://inhabitat.com/solar-impulse-plane-prepares-for-switzerland-test-flights/#comments Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:35:42 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://inhabitat.com/?p=158799
The Solar Impulse solar-powered airplane is unstoppable so far. Earlier this summer, the single-seat plane completed its first night flight, and now the aircraft is getting ready for three test flights across Switzerland -- from Payerne to Geneva, Geneva to]]>

The Solar Impulse solar-powered airplane is unstoppable so far. Earlier this summer, the single-seat plane completed its first night flight, and now the aircraft is getting ready for three test flights across Switzerland — from Payerne to Geneva, Geneva to Zurich, and Zurich to Payerne.

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Plane Prepares For Switzerland Test Flights

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: "solar energy", solar impulse, solar plane, Solar Power, Switzerland

]]> http://inhabitat.com/solar-impulse-plane-prepares-for-switzerland-test-flights/feed/ 0 http://inhabitat.com/sun-powered-solar-impulse-plane-completes-first-night-flight/ http://inhabitat.com/sun-powered-solar-impulse-plane-completes-first-night-flight/#comments Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:40:23 +0000 Cameron Scott http://inhabitat.com/?p=135359
The Solar Impulse airplane landed in Switzerland this morning after a 26-hour flight that proved that a solar-powered airplane can fly in darkness. The propeller plane has nearly 12,000 solar cells on its 207-foot lightweight carbon-fiber wings. The cells]]>

The Solar Impulse airplane landed in Switzerland this morning after a 26-hour flight that proved that a solar-powered airplane can fly in darkness. The propeller plane has nearly 12,000 solar cells on its 207-foot lightweight carbon-fiber wings. The cells stored enough energy between takeoff at 7 a.m. yesterday and nightfall last night to get pilot André Borschberg through the night at a maximum altitude of 28,000 feet.

Read the rest of Sun-Powered Solar Impulse Plane Completes First Night Flight

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: Andre Borschberg, bertrand piccard, green air travel, green airplane, solar air travel, solar airplane, solar impulse

]]> http://inhabitat.com/sun-powered-solar-impulse-plane-completes-first-night-flight/feed/ 3 http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-plane-embarks-on-first-24hr-flight-as-darkness-falls/ http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-plane-embarks-on-first-24hr-flight-as-darkness-falls/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 17:42:46 +0000 Cameron Scott http://inhabitat.com/?p=134804
Can a solar-powered plane fly at night? We'll know for certain in just a few short hours. Early this morning the 40-horsepower Solar Impulse aircraft embarked upon its first 24-hour trip. Just before dark, pilot André Borschberg will decide whether]]>

Can a solar-powered plane fly at night? We’ll know for certain in just a few short hours. Early this morning the 40-horsepower Solar Impulse aircraft embarked upon its first 24-hour trip. Just before dark, pilot André Borschberg will decide whether or not to continue the flight, drawing power from lithium batteries that store a charge from the 11,000-plus solar cells on the craft.

Read the rest of Solar-Powered Plane Embarks on First 24hr Flight As Darkness Falls

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: air travel, Andre Borschberg, bertrand piccard, green air travel, solar impulse, Solar Power, solar powered aircraft

]]> http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-plane-embarks-on-first-24hr-flight-as-darkness-falls/feed/ 0 http://inhabitat.com/solar-impulse-airplane-gears-up-for-first-night-flight/ http://inhabitat.com/solar-impulse-airplane-gears-up-for-first-night-flight/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:00:29 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://inhabitat.com/?p=132192
We've been following the progress of the Solar Impulse, a solar-powered plane that will attempt to circle the globe, for over a year. The single-seat plane took its first successful flight this past April, and now Solar Impulse founder Bertrand Piccard is]]>

We’ve been following the progress of the Solar Impulse, a solar-powered plane that will attempt to circle the globe, for over a year. The single-seat plane took its first successful flight this past April, and now Solar Impulse founder Bertrand Piccard is gearing up to send the plane on its inaugural night flight this Thursday.

Read the rest of Solar Impulse Airplane Gears Up For First Night Flight!

---

Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg
Post tags: bertrand piccard, solar impulse, solar plane, Solar Power, Switzerland

]]> http://inhabitat.com/solar-impulse-airplane-gears-up-for-first-night-flight/feed/ 4