This beautiful solar-powered plane is huge - and it's flying around the world
Getty Images
It's the Solar Impulse, an aircraft that powered by light - but that can still soar in darkness because it uses batteries to store energy gathered during daytime flight.
It isn't exactly supersonic, however. But it's currently flying around the world. And it's going to take rather less than 80 days.
Last year, Bloomberg reported that the duo of pilots taking turns at the controls would need to "withstand flying non-stop for five days and nights to prepare for ocean crossings stuffed in a tiny cabin traveling as high as 27,000 feet at about 45 miles per hour."
The aircraft has covered vast distances before: In 2013, it was flown (slowly) across the U.S., in multiple legs, and it's flown (slowly) across continents, from Switzerland to Morocco.
Even though it lacks afterburners, it still looks cool, lazily transiting the skies above the world's cities.
Here are some more photos of the spectacular aircraft and its pilot as they fly around the globe.
MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP
AFP
MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP
MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP
Check out this recent video, from the organization behind the plane:
- India's hidden gems where the thermometer doesn't cross 20 degrees
- India's foreign exchange reserves rose by USD 2.6 billion in the week ending May 10: RBI
- India is one of the strongest markets in the world with its fundamentals: Red Hat CEO
- Trade ties with India suspended due to 'heavy duties': Pakistan Foreign Minister
- Luxury “floating” beach unveiled in France; Critics term it an “ecological aberration”
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market