Plane powered by 12,000 solar cells

[waynefromnscanada]

The plane - the size of a jumbo jet - is powered by 12,000 solar cells turning four electrical motors.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18330009

[rollandelliott]

Looks like the cock pit can only fit one or two people. Maybe one day technology will be good enough so the plane wouldn't have to be so huge!

[RandomJoe]

Minor nit, although it's obvious if you look at a picture:

It has the *wingspan* of a jumbo jet. It certainly isn't (to my way of thinking) actually the *size* of a jumbo jet! They can't even carry a second pilot yet, that's planned for the next version.

When I first heard about this plane and flight, everywhere being described as "size of jumbo jet" I thought WOW!!! We're really making progress!!! But not so much... Also thought their description of the flight as a "20 hour intercontinental flight" as a bit reaching - technically correct, perhaps, but it was only Spain to Morocco! That was a slow flight...

Not to detract from their accomplishment, I'd love to have a plane like that! :) But the reporting on it has been a bit sensational...