Alternative Energy Hits the Skies: Solar Energy: Eco20/20

Alternative Energy Hits the Skies

As fossil fuels are becoming more and more scarce, developing alternative energy sources is becoming a must. This is seen in almost every industry throughout the world, particularly as governments also begin to hold themselves and their citizens to stricter greenhouse emissions standards in an effort to protect the environment. For aircraft, switching to alternative energy has proven to be very difficult, but there are some outstanding examples of alternative energy at work.

One of the first and most interesting was the Helios. This flying wing, developed by ERAST (Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology), was built to prove that a solar-electric powered flying wing was possible. The experiment was a huge success and the Helios reached a world-record altitude for a non-rocket powered aircraft of 96,863 feet. Unfortunately, the Helios was lost due to turbulence which eventually knocked off many of the solar panels because the wing became so deformed. As an alternative energy aircraft, the Helios proved that solar-electric powered flight was possible.

The Solar Impulse is also setting records and breaking down the ideas of how an aircraft should be powered. The engineers designed the airplane with an especially long wingspan and relatively low weight. The main accomplishment of the Solar Impulse to date has been the around the world flight. During the flight, the airplane went from day to night to day. This is an amazing achievement considering the airplane is powered by solar-electric panels on the wings which gather energy during the day. The energy gathered is about equivalent to the energy the Wright brothers had available during their flights at Kitty Hawk. However, with the battery storage and highly efficient electrical systems of the Solar Impulse, the airplane was able to store enough energy during the day to keep it flying all night long which is a truly amazing achievement. Also significant is that the Solar Impulse was flown by a pilot inside the aircraft. The Helios was a remote-controlled aircraft.

Another groundbreaking aircraft is the Sunseeker I and II. These aircraft are also leading the field in solar powered flight with a pilot on board. The Sunseeker I has a unique cockpit with a canopy that can be closed, partially open, or completely open during flight. This is particularly interesting since the Sunseeker I began development as a glider only and later was fitted with solar panels and batteries to power two small motors. The Sunseeker II has the distinction of being the fastest solar airplane currently flying. Sunseeker II was also developed with the innovation of making the solar panels an integrated part of the wing structure rather than just being attached onto the wing after construction. This led to a much more streamlined and efficient airplane. Sunseeker II also has the distinction of having more flight time in the air logged than any other solar powered aircraft.

These innovative aircraft are at the cutting edge of alternative energy design for aircraft. With the inclusion of a pilot and the potential for passengers, keep an eye out for solar powered commercial aircraft down the road.

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