Promoting of application of alternative energy sources was the main idea of the project on creation of the plane on solar batteries. The project received the name Solar Impulse Project - "Solar Impulse" - and is planned on stage-by-stage realization during almost whole decade. This summer the aircraft has to make flight on the general distance in 2500 km. It has to begin in Switzerland, and in Morocco laying of the world's largest solar power station is planned end there.
The project in which creation of the plane is not end in itself started in 2003 with development in the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland) of the feasibility study. This educational institution remained also further base for all works of Solar Impulse Project though dozens of the enterprises of Europe take part in the project already. Initiators and the main driving force of an invention are two Swiss enthusiasts of aeronautics - the psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard and the businessman Andre Borschberg. They also pilot the plane which first option - HB-SIA - was for the first time presented to public in 2006.
The first public flight made the device on solar batteries in 2009, and later on it the record of duration of the piloted flight for this class of planes was set. By 2011 the authors of the project created the second option of the aircraft and made on it the round-the-clock flight. All these intermediate stages, including also flight this summer in Morocco, are preparation for the round-the-world travel of the unique aircraft planned for 2014.
The second option of the plane has the small total weight - in completely equipped state and with the pilot onboard it makes 1600 kg. However it has very long wings (63.4 m) on which surface of 200 m² solar batteries are placed. They ensure functioning of four 7.5 kW screw motors. In order that the device could fly also in the absence of solar lighting (at night or in clouds), are used lithium - the polymeric accumulators making a quarter of weight of the plane. However and their power does not last for night-time. Therefore to approach of evening the pilots lift the device on the maximum height in 12 kilometers and several night hours plan, gradually losing height. Then the power supply of electric motors from accumulators which charge is enough before rising of a free power source joins.