Solar plane lands at night in Europe-to-Africa journey
Source: Agencies |
June 7, 2012, Thursday
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IT was no coincidence that Morocco was chosen as the destination for the first intercontinental flight by a solar-powered aircraft, the pilot said early yesterday after stepping out of the fragile craft following a 20-hour flight from Madrid.
Bertrand Piccard told reporters and government officials who came to meet him at the runway of the Rabat airport in the wee hours that it was Morocco's ambitious solar energy plans that brought him here.
"We came here out of admiration for Morocco's pioneering solar energy program," he said, flashing a brilliant smile and hugging members of his team on the tarmac.
Just moments earlier, the Solar Impulse swept silently out of the darkness to glide onto the runway. Its four battery-powered turbo-props were still, showing off the aircraft's ability to fly even when the sun is gone.
"It was perhaps the most beautiful flight of my life. I have dreamed since I was a child of flying without using fuel," said Piccard, from a family of adventurers, who has circumnavigated the world by balloon.
Solar Impulse is a single-seat aircraft fitted with 12,000 solar cells across a wingspan similar to that of a large commercial jet airliner. But it weighs about the same as an average family car, according to organizers.
In November 2009, Morocco said it would build five solar energy plants with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts by 2020. Construction on the first plant in Ouarzazate, on the Sahara's edge, is expected to start this month.
Morocco, whose primary source of energy is oil that it has to import, hopes to eventually export solar energy to Europe.
Solar Impulse arrived in Madrid from Switzerland in late May on the first leg of its journey, but the delicate craft was delayed for several days by bad weather. The two-leg Europe to Africa trip covered 2,500 kilometers.
The light craft can fly only in perfect weather. The plane has managed to climb to 8,535 meters and reached top speeds of more than 120 kilometer per hour, though its usual cruising speed is just over half that.
Piccard said the plane isn't meant to eventually replace conventional air travel, but rather to demonstrate what is possible with solar energy. An around-the-world flight with a new and improved plane is set for 2014. The project cost about US$100 million, and is supported by several major corporations.
Bertrand Piccard told reporters and government officials who came to meet him at the runway of the Rabat airport in the wee hours that it was Morocco's ambitious solar energy plans that brought him here.
"We came here out of admiration for Morocco's pioneering solar energy program," he said, flashing a brilliant smile and hugging members of his team on the tarmac.
Just moments earlier, the Solar Impulse swept silently out of the darkness to glide onto the runway. Its four battery-powered turbo-props were still, showing off the aircraft's ability to fly even when the sun is gone.
"It was perhaps the most beautiful flight of my life. I have dreamed since I was a child of flying without using fuel," said Piccard, from a family of adventurers, who has circumnavigated the world by balloon.
Solar Impulse is a single-seat aircraft fitted with 12,000 solar cells across a wingspan similar to that of a large commercial jet airliner. But it weighs about the same as an average family car, according to organizers.
In November 2009, Morocco said it would build five solar energy plants with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts by 2020. Construction on the first plant in Ouarzazate, on the Sahara's edge, is expected to start this month.
Morocco, whose primary source of energy is oil that it has to import, hopes to eventually export solar energy to Europe.
Solar Impulse arrived in Madrid from Switzerland in late May on the first leg of its journey, but the delicate craft was delayed for several days by bad weather. The two-leg Europe to Africa trip covered 2,500 kilometers.
The light craft can fly only in perfect weather. The plane has managed to climb to 8,535 meters and reached top speeds of more than 120 kilometer per hour, though its usual cruising speed is just over half that.
Piccard said the plane isn't meant to eventually replace conventional air travel, but rather to demonstrate what is possible with solar energy. An around-the-world flight with a new and improved plane is set for 2014. The project cost about US$100 million, and is supported by several major corporations.
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