Unique Flying Machines: Solar Impulse 2

Unique Flying Machines: Solar Impulse 2 – This December, we’re celebrating the Solar Impulse 2 (SI2), the first solar-powered aircraft to circumnavigate the globe.

During daylight hours, the aircraft ascends to 8,500 meters (27,878 feet) where it stores the maximum amount of solar power in its batteries and assumes its top airspeed of 90 km/h (56 mph).

The aircraft is built ten times lighter than the lightest glider and weigh a mere 2,300 kilograms (5,070 pounds), which is comparable to a small van.

SI2 began its epic flight on March 9, 2015.