RedOrbit - May 3, 2013 - by Lawrence LeBlond
Lawrence LeBlond for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online
Across America 2013 begins today as Bertrand Piccard takes the helm of the HB-SIA Solar Impulse aircraft for the first leg of a two-month journey from San Francisco to New York City in a plane flown only by the power of the sun. The first flight from San Francisco to Phoenix, Arizona begins this morning with the plane expecting a take-off at around 9 a.m. EDT (6 a.m. PDT).
The Solar Impulse Across America 2013 project represents the first time in history a plane will attempt to fly across the United States both day and night using only the Sun to power the aircraft. The plane’s wings consist of 12,000 solar cells that soak up and hold energy, allowing the plane to fly under darkness. The craft, which has been dubbed the “zero fuel airplane,” has a wingspan of a 747 but only weighs about the same as an average mid-size car.
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