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SoLong Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
AC Propulsion founder, Alan Cocconi, pioneers electric propulsion for airplanes as well as for cars. He has created the SoLong, an electric-powered UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that collects solar energy from photo-voltaic arrays laminated into its wings. It uses energy so efficiently that energy gathered while flying during the day can be banked to keep flying all night. Remaining aloft for two nights is the milestone for sustainable flight. One night is possible just by discharging the batteries, but two or more nights means that the plane has to fully recoup and store the energy used at night while flying in the sunlight the following day. Once that is achieved, the cycle can repeat continually, and keep the plane airborne indefinitely. To read the ACP press release on SoLong's 48-hour flight made in June, 2005, click here To read a June 26, 2005 article from Aviation Week magazine, click here To read a May 30, 2005 article in FORTUNE magazine, click here To read the ACP press release on SoLong's 24-hour flight in April of 2005, click here An archived report on the SoLong is also available for download:
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