A solar powered airplane is an amazing technological breakthrough, especially for the aerospace industry. Since solar energy is an abundant, even infinite source of energy, scientists and mechanics have decided to capitalize on this source of renewable energy, so they created an airplane that relies on the light from the sun to fly. This is how solar powered airplanes came into being.

Solar Versus Traditional Airplanes

Solar airplanes are mostly surveillance aircraft, because they desperately need the sun in order to fly. On the other hand, passenger and fighter planes have to run on fuel, because they need sustainability. While traditional airplanes can fly thousands of miles without refueling, the farthest solar powered airplanes have travelled is 3,511 miles, from the West Coast on the East Coast.
However, solar planes win at a category no one has considered so far - longevity. If classic jets must land on a regular basis to refuel, solar planes can fly as long as there is sun. Of course, their batteries must be charged during the night in order to be able to keep flying. Solar plane makers have a bold goal, which is to create solar powered airplanes that could fly for months without stopping to recharge their batteries.

How Are Solar Planes Made?

These modern planes are extremely flat and thin, with a body made of easy carbon-fiber pipes, featuring light, voltage wind sensors and millimeter thick solar panels. The lithium sulfur batteries are wired to the motors and can recharge during the flight. Some solar planes don't even need a pilot, because the autopilot can do everything, from takeoff to landing. These amazing planes are designed in such a manner to auto sustain themselves. Hence, they can be controlled from the ground, using modern onboard systems. However, some solar planes can have real pilots, but they need to have at least 60 hours of flight experience on regular planes and another 40 on solar planes.

Environmental Benefits

Many researchers are coming to notice the huge environmental benefits of solar powered airplanes [http://myreviewboost.com/index.php/professional-services/sungate-energy-solutions.html]. First of all, these planes are way less expensive to build. They can also work as satellites and as spy planes, because they can fly extremely high, such as war drones or reconnaissance planes. Also, they can be easily brought down for maintenance and reparations.

Because these planes are electric, they emit no gases, so they don't pollute the atmosphere. In conclusion, solar powered airplanes [http://myreviewboost.com/index.php/professional-services/sungate-energy-solutions.html] protect the environment while helping NASA and other big corporations make the most out of solar power.