Aerospace engineer Hannes Ross, one of the aircraft‘s creators, introduced the "Solar Impulse" project at VGTU Antanas Gustaitis‘ Aviation Institute during the international seminar on "Research and Education in Aircraft Design in 2014‘‘. After prototype testing, the improved airplane Solar Impulse 2, travelling around the world, will fly, on average, at the speed of 70 kilometres per hour, at the height from 1500 to 8500 meters. Such conditions chosen in order to use less energy, saving it for the flight.
Ultra lightweight carbon-fibre aircraft‘s wings reach seventy two meters, with more than seventeen thousand solar cells built in there. It is expected that this round the world flight will begin in March next year and last until June.
"The ideas of scientists can really change the world. The aircraft‘s preparation for the round the world solar flight proves it perfectly well. Lithuania is also contributing to this global trend – at the moment our aviation professionals are testing alternative energy sources, while creating pilotless planes," – said Antanas Čenys, the Vice-Rector for Research at VGTU.
More latest and up to date aviation ideas were presented during the 11th International Seminar on ‘‘Research and Education in Aircraft Design in 2014‘‘, such as devices and small planes, managed at a glance, the use of alternative energy sources and warm air currents for pilotless aircrafts, and artificial satellites. More than sixty scientists as well as PhD and Masters Students from fourteen countries from all over the world, attended the seminar. They shared their observations and studies in various fields, such as aircraft design, aviation specialists‘ training, scientific and business cooperation, security in aviation, etc.
