Images: Cross-Country Flight in a Solar-Powered Plane

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Solar Impulse Flies Over San Francisco

Solar Impulse at night over San Francisco

(Image credit: Solar Impulse)

Solar Impulse Over Golden Gate Bridge

Solar Impulse Over Golden Gate Bridge

(Image credit: Solar Impulse)

This image, from a previous test flight, shows Solar Impulse flying over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif.

Solar Impulse - San Francisco

Solar Impulse plane over San Francisco

(Image credit: Solar Impulse)

The Solar Impulse plane, as it flies around the San Francisco Bay area in California.

Propellor planes

Propellors from the Solar Impulse solar plane

(Image credit: © Solar Impulse | Jean Revillard)

The plane, called Solar Impulse, departed from Mountain View, California for New York on May 3, 2013.

Stopovers

The solar plane's cockpit and gondola

(Image credit: © Solar Impulse | Jean Revillard)

Along the way, the team will stop in Phoenix, Dallas, and Washington D.C., and plans to touch down in New York in late June or early July.

Ultra lightweight

The solar impulse plane flies over Rabat

(Image credit: © Solar Impulse | Jean Revillard)

To accomplish this feat, the plane combines ultra lightweight construction, low power needs, and giant wings. The plane has a wingspan of a jetliner but weighs as much as a stationwagon.

Solar panels

Solar panels on the wings of the Solar Impulse plane

(Image credit: © Solar Impulse | Stéphane Gros)

Solar panels across the wings produce power during the day, while lithium polymer batteries use that power to fly the plane at night

Wingspan

solar panels span the entire wings of the solar impulse plane

(Image credit: © Solar Impulse | Fred Merz)

Here, another view of the solar panels spanning the wing

Tiny energy needs

The engine of the solar impulse plane

(Image credit: © Solar Impulse | Stéphane Gros)

Though its wingspan rivals a commercial jet, the actual engine is tiny. The plane itself requires , about the same power needed by a small scooter. That's also about the same amount of power as the Wright Brothers' plane needed.

Solo flight

The cockpit of the solar impulse plane

(Image credit: © Solar Impulse | Fred Merz)

The plane carries only one pilot and zero passengers. For the around-the-world trip planned in 2015, the team wants to expand the cockpit so that it's at least as roomy as a business class.

Tia Ghose
Tia Ghose
Editor-in-Chief (Premium)

Tia is the editor-in-chief (premium) and was formerly managing editor and senior writer for Live Science. Her work has appeared in Scientific American, Wired.com, Science News and other outlets. She holds a master's degree in bioengineering from the University of Washington, a graduate certificate in science writing from UC Santa Cruz and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Tia was part of a team at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that published the Empty Cradles series on preterm births, which won multiple awards, including the 2012 Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism.