Oratex Success Stories
Solar Impulse
With a wingspan equal to an Airbus A340 and the weight of an average size car, the Solar Impulse was designed to fly continuously for over 24 hours, without fuel. Obviously, making the aircraft as light as possible was a top concern. That's why the design team chose Oratex fabric as the cover material.
In July 2010, Solar Impulse achieved its goal by using over 11,000 individual solar cells to power 4 brushless electric motors, each developing 10 horsepower, to carry the silver Oratex covered airframe to an altitude of 30,300 feet, and staying aloft for 26 hours, 10 minutes, 19 seconds.