Record breaking, solar powered plane touches down in Washington DC

FORT PARKWAY, U.K. - June 17, 2013 - PRLog -- A record breaking solar powered plane has successfully travelled across the continent, highlighting the future potential of zero-emissions transport and a greener world. EUM Consultants look at the future of transport.

The Swiss-built plane is 64 metres wide, the same as a Boeing 748-400, but weighs just a minute amount compared to a normal plane, which causes problems with wind as it did on Saturday resulting in an unscheduled stop at Cincinnati. “This is a huge development in aviation, obviously this plan is far from perfect, it is lightweight and struggles in strong winds, however it represents the future developments in zero-emissions aviation” says Mark McAlear, Managing Director of EUM Consultants. Winds in Dallas were so strong they actually pushed the plane backwards when landing, according to one of the pilots of the one-seater Soar Impulse.

The Solar Impulse has made a journey from San Francisco, and in the last month has stopped at St Louis, Dallas, Phoenix, Washington until its final destination of New York next month. Until then, the plane is on display at the Smithsonian’s Steven F Udvar-Hazy air and space museum. “This plane has travelled extremely far, considering it is solar powered. It will mean amazing things for the future of aviation and travel” says Alex Tsimboykas, Sales Director of EUM Consultants. The plane, at its fastest, can travel up to 50mph, has taken 10 years of planning and reportedly cost 73 million pounds. “It has cost a large amount of money, yes it doesn’t go as fast as people would like to hear, but it is the developments  that will come from it that are so exciting!” says Mark McAlear, Managing Director of EUM Consultants.

The plane is covered in almost 12,000 PV cells that power 400kg of batteries, and can cruise at around 8,500 meters. In 2015 the plane is set for a round the world flight, the weather issues it has faced has helped prepare the plane and pilots for the trip. “The plane is putting people in the mind-set of what is to come, it may be ten, twenty or even one hundred years before zero-emissions aviation is used across the world, but it is possible, and it is green!” says Alex Tsimboykas, Sales Director of EUM Consultants.

Every day new, greener methods are being introduced, from insulation, to light bulbs, to solar powered cars and planes, the world is really taking huge steps in going green, and this zero-emissions plane is another huge step (or flight) in the right direction.

www.eumconsultants.com