French will test a hybrid biplane on solar batteries

The hybrid Eraole airplane is equipped with solar batteries, lithium - ion accumulators and the internal combustion engine working at biofuel.

As expected, the first flight of the airplane will be transatlantic - Eraole will depart along a route Paris - New York - 5,8 thousand km that will take about 60 hours.

According to preliminary plans, 25% of a way the airplane will fly by due to energy from solar batteries, 20% - due to planning and 55% - on biofuel.

The total area of solar panels of the airplane makes 43 km. m; they are located on the upper surface of both wings, and also on a fuselage and a tail beam.

Eraole is executed according to the diagram of an unary biplane. His lower wing is located closer to nasal part, and upper - in the place of transition of a fuselage to a tail beam. Length of Eraole makes 7,5 m, and a wing range - 14 m. The airplane with the maximum take-off weight of 750 kg is capable to execute flights at a speed of 140 km/h. According to designers, the most ecological speed of Eraole are 65 km/h.