Solar Impulse during its "flea hop" tests in December 2009 - solar panels are at the back
Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss federal government has approved a new flying ordinance that will allow pioneering solar plane Solar Impulse to take to the skies at night around Payerne, in canton Vaud. Flights are normally banned between 06:00 and 22:00 in Switzerland, but the new ordinance, which applies only to Solar Impulse, will allow the plane to make up to 20 flights a year for the duration of the test period, starting 1 April 2010 and ending 31 December 2013.
Bern gave its permission for the solar plane’s test flights noting that the project is an “exceptional challenge” and not just an aeronautical project. The purpose of the night flights is to allow project engineers to test the plane’s ability to fly at night using only solar energy captured during the day, in order to reach the ultimate goal of flying for 36 hours without fuel.
The team is led by Solar Impulse’s two project founders, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg.
Background, GenevaLunch
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News story, GenevaLunch, 17 February 2010.
Filed under: Tech/media
Tags: Andre Borschberg, Bertrand Piccard, Payerne, solar energy, Solar Impulse, solar plane