Tuesday 28 July 2009
Solar Electric Flight in search of Spanish sun!
Almost a week ago, a team of intrepid pilots embarked on an exciting new adventure to raise funds for Ataxia medical research and promote alternative energy as a power source of the future. Now entering its second leg, having crossed the Pyrenees, the Incredible Solar Electric Flight will be taking to the skies along Spain’s southern coastline.
Starting from Monte-Carlo and covering an estimated 2000km, the Incredible Solar Electric Flight aims to achieve the world’s longest solar-powered paramotor flight, demonstrating the latest combination in solar energy, battery power and paramotors.
The British-based team, sponsored by Smart Solar, LottyB, Hurun Report and The Week, are flying a new Electric Paramotor - the first commercial solar-powered electric flight system - to Ceuta Morocco. Covering an estimated 150km per day in favourable weather conditions, the expedition should take roughly two weeks to complete.
“We have made good progress despite some difficult conditions,” explains expedition organiser Damian Cardozo. “Our flight across France has been exciting and eventful. The electric paramotor is performing beyond our expectations and we are particularly pleased with the efficiency of the solar panels, proving that this environmentally-friendly power source is a viable alternative.”
“As a solar specialist company, this is of course an ideal type of project for us to be involved with,” comments Smart Solar’s managing director, Jonathan Stobart, who supplied the solar panels. “I am thrilled that the panels have been working so effectively during the first few days of the flight. Whilst the panels and the application is different from the main product business of Smart Solar, it fits our aims in terms of supplying a solar solution to the problem in hand.”
The expedition aims to raise awareness of Ataxia; a debilitating disease that affects part of the nervous system that normally control co-ordination and balance. There are many different types of ataxia with different causes and symptoms; many are inherited. Research has shown that more than 10,000 adults in the UK have ataxia and many more children: thousands more than was previously thought. Ataxia is progressive, meaning it gets worse with time, until people become entirely dependent on others for all their needs. There is currently no cure.
“We have received tremendous support from our sponsors and everyone interested in what we are doing,” adds Damian. “As we head into Spain we are looking forward to flying along their beautiful coastline and arriving in Ceuta.”
.png&h=38&w=38&sx=1&sy=1&zc=TL)
