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Clean skies ahead
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09/04/2008
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Whilst concern surrounding the impact of aviation on climate change continues to gather momentum, new and demanding targets for reduced aircraft emissions are emerging which increase pressure for a transformational change in the industry to develop a commercial aviation sustainability strategy.
Virgin Atlantic’s recent bio fuel flight took a step in the right direction, whilst Airbus conducted its first trials using liquid fuel processed from natural gas. And now there is news of an exciting challenge by Swiss based Solar Impulse to become the first solar powered airplane to fly around the world.
Getting renewable energy off the ground using a solar powered airplane is a major challenge that aligns itself with some of the most audacious adventures of the last Century. But, whilst the Wright Brothers’ powered flight and the first moon landings were seen as major triumphs in scientific endeavour, Solar Impulse carries a far more important environmental message on its substantial wingspan.
The lofty hopes and ambitions supporting aviation’s winged journey for sustainable development could be viewed as nothing more than merely the green gestures of a dying planet – unless mankind’s imagination can be captured by one of aviation’s famous firsts: an avant garde technological adventure to fly around the world in a solar airplane!
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Author
Mike Richardson
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