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| Co-pilots Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard board the Solar Impulse 2 for the first leg of the round-the-world flight. Photo: Solar Impulse |
[Avionics Today 03-09-2015] Solar Impulse 2, the first completely solar powered aircraft, lifted off from Abu Dhabi early Monday morning, effectively beginning its round-the-world flight. Scheduled to land back in Abu Dhabi by late June or early August of this year, the aircraft looks to traverse the globe with multiple stops in the Middle East, Asia and the United States, among others, without a drop of fuel.
In addition to being the first completely solar powered aircraft, the Solar Impulse 2 is also completely connected. SITA OnAir has connected the aircraft from nose-to-tail, providing satellite connectivity for pilot voice and data communications as well as operational applications such as live weather updates and real-time aircraft monitoring. Sensors on the aircraft send a constant stream of data during the flight, including power and resistance information, and performance data covering every piece of equipment. The system also allows the public to experience the flights real-time via the video stream and messaging on social networks.
“This aircraft is pushing the boundaries of technology in many ways,” said Bertrand Piccard, chairman of Solar Impulse. “The batteries are based on new brand-new electrolytes that allow the energy density to be increased. We are using carbon fiber that is lighter than any previously seen. And thanks to SITA OnAir connectivity, we are able to monitor every aspect of the plane at all times.”