Solar Impulse Flies into the future

Solar powered sustainable aviation seems like an impossible dream compared with the gas guzzling jets of today’s aviation industry, but Solar Impulse allows us to glimpse into the future. This solar powered plane is flying across America. The first leg from San Francisco to Phoenix was completed successfully earlier today.

 

 The dream of low-carbon sustainable aviation could become reality sooner than policy makers expect, and much sooner than the industry would want. Boeing and Airbus will want to sell a lot conventional planes before society demands change, but the timing of the transition is society’s call. There are aviation innovators and pioneers showing the way towards sustainable aviation.

 Photo: www.solarimpulse.com 

Solar Impulse weighs as much as a small car and carries one person – the pilot - at 70km/h (43 mph). In itself, this is little more than a curiosity but its value is the proof of the concept that solar power is a relevant and credible power source for air vehicles. As we observe the progress of Solar Impulse across the USA, there are entrepreneurs thinking about how to exploit the possibilities.

Flying high above cloud level, the sun is strong and consistent. Schedules would have to exploit daylight of course, taking off in the morning flying through the middle of the day, landing late afternoon. There would also have to be additional sources of power to take-off and climb to altitude but cruising above the clouds under solar power is entirely feasible. You could not of course fit a conventional plane with solar cells on the wings and electric engines because the design parameters are completely different, but give the aero engineer the freedom and we will be amazed what is possible.

The rich and time-poor will still want fly in fast aircraft that are an evolution from today’s models. But they will pay heavily for the privilege ‒ as the tax-free status of aviation fuel is removed. The industry’s plan to continue to operate, much as now, using biofuel will be exposed as disingenuous bluster (see pages 107-110 of Fly and be Damned). In this transformed industry, those of us who are less affluent will have to trade time for money. A new generation of air vehicle will become commercially viable that are, half air ship, half plane. These large, slow (relative to jets) air vehicles will be covered in state-of-the-art solar cells to provide cruise power; and, being spacious, provide a relaxed and comfortable journey experience.

I am confident that there is a golden age of aviation waiting to be launched (with Solar Impulse the first tiny step) but my vision remains grounded because of resistance from the industry (thinking about their shareholders) and politicians (worried at the backlash from a public that has become used to cheap flights). All of us can, and should, join together to insist on change. Aviation could be so much better, for passengers, for the new aviation entrepreneurs and for the environment. The industry may be reluctant but it will be able to make the transformation; the lever is fuel taxation; the people to pull the lever are the politicians. Politicians will act when we insist on change.  The power is with us all. Now is the time to join the growing body of people who want to see aviation transformed…