Gallery: A Pilot's Guide to an Enormous Continent-Crossing Solar Plane
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The Solar Impulse airplane, over the Sacramento River Delta on the first leg of its transcontinental flight. Photo: *F. Merz/Solar Impulse*
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André Borschberg wishes Bertrand Piccard good luck before Piccard takes off from Moffett Field on the first leg of the Solar Impulse transcontinental flight. *Photo: F. Merz/Solar Impulse*
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HB-SIA, moments before takeoff on Monday. *Photo: F. Merz/Solar Impulse*
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Bertrand Piccard, in the cockpit during a test flight last week. *Photo: N. Ackermann/Solar Impulse*
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The Solar Impulse plane, over the Golden Gate during a test flight last week. The 208-foot wingspan and the tail section are covered by 12,000 photovoltaic cells. *Photo: J. Revillard/Solar Impulse*
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All eight ailerons along the 208-foot wingspan can indeed be moved with nothing more than finger tip pressure on the yoke. *Photo: Jason Paur/Wired*
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Four 10-horsepower motors, each spinning a prop 3.5 meters long, keep HB-SIA cruising at 43 mph. The Wright Brothers flyer used a 12-horsepower motor. *Photo: Jason Paur/Wired.com*
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The cross-like tail distributes load forces symmetrically, allowing the team to make the fuselage smaller, and therefore lighter. *Photo: Jason Paur/Wired*
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The Solar Impulse is made largely of carbon fiber and photovoltaic cells. Despite its impressive wingspan, which rivals that of a Boeing 747, the plane weighs about as much as a Honda Accord. *Photo: Jason Paur/Wired*
