The Route Animation:
Dr Bertrand Piccard intends to be the first man to fly around the world in a solar powered aircraft. This undertaking called Solar Impulse is the name of a project to buid a long-range solar powered aircraft.
This record breaking flight is planned for May 2011 and will follow the tropic of cancer around the planet. Construction of the prototype with a 61 meter wingspan begins next month with test flights to begin next year.
This very large glider type aircraft will be piloted by Mr Piccard, an experienced aeronaut who has previously taken a balloon around the world. The biggest challenge is building an aircraft with batteries strong enough to store energy through the night. The wingspan will be about the same size as an Airbus A380 but the Solar Impulse will weigh in at only 2 tonnes.
The wings will be covered in ultra thin solar cells and the plane will fly at upto 12,000 meters (36,000 ft) and will feature a pressurized cockpit with accomodations for one pilot.
The project is currently in the design phase with a maiden prototype flight planned for May of 2008.
A Solar Implulse Prototype
Deutsche Bank will contribute $12 million of the projects $32.5 million estimated cost. Other sponsors include Swatch Groups Omega and Solvay SA of Belgium. The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne is the official scientific advisor to the project.
The Cockpit 
