Solar-Paneled Plane Takes Flight

Sky Limo Air Charter, a private aviation company, loves to inform you of the latest news to hit the aviation industry. And according to CNN.com, in Switzerland, a solar-powered aircraft recently completed a 26-hour test flight. Solar Impulse flew to a height of about 28,000 feet. The battery charged with its level rising thanks to the sun. It didn’t use any fuel and didn’t cause any pollution. In the evening, the plane slowly descended to 4,500 feet where it flew throughout the night just using the battery power. An hour before dawn , the article on CNN says that the aircraft still had six hours of flying time. Solar Impulse has a wingspan of more than 206 feet which resembles the wingspan of an Airbus A340. The solar-powered aircraft weighs about 3,500 pounds and has about 12,000 solar cells attached to its wings. The plane also has four electric engines and has a top speed of about 43 miles per hour. In 2012, the team behind Solar Impulse hopes to fly around the world in five stages.