It is encouraging that Solar Impulse, the solar-powered plane that took off from Abu Dhabi in March, to fly around the world, will restart its journey in March 2016 and will use the longer summer days to complete the round trip back to the UAE — including the huge first leg over the rest of the Pacific to Vancouver.
The strain on the new technology in the plane’s special batteries, during the record-breaking five day-and-night crossing from Japan to Hawaii, caused the unique batteries to fail and it has taken time to raise money and prepare for a fresh start.
News of the Solar Impulse getting ready to take-off again is particularly significant, coming during the two weeks of the climate change conference in Paris, as a major reason of this test-flight is to prove to the world that renewable energy is feasible for long-haul flights and technology can help stop climate change. The plane has a wider wingspan and is only the weight of a five-seater family car, but it is seen as a first step in getting the air industry to abandon hydrocarbon fuels.
