The Solar Impulse 2, the world's largest solar-powered aircraft, crashed in the Gulf of Mexico on May 4th while undergoing an unmanned autonomous flight test after experiencing a power failure.
The aircraft made history in 2016 by becoming the first plane to successfully circumnavigate the world on a 16-month journey using only solar energy.
Despite having a 232-foot wingspan that is even wider than a Boeing 747, the aircraft weighs only 5,100 pounds because it was constructed from carbon-fiber, and it can fly at altitudes up to 39,000 feet.
Additionally, it uses a total of 17,248 solar cells to power 1,400 pounds of batteries that supply four electric motors, and it features an autopilot system that allows the pilot to take 20-minute power naps during flights.
The aircraft was subsequently sold to Skydweller Aero, a company that redesigned it as an unmanned autonomous reconnaissance aircraft for use in military and commercial operations.
Ref: Fossbytes
