VOA常速英语2014--Solar Plane Set to Circumnavigate the World 太阳能飞机环航世界

Solar Plane Set to Circumnavigate the World 太阳能飞机环航世界

After successfully flying their solar-powered plane from Spain to Morocco in 2012, and across the U.S. in 2013, Swiss aeronautical 1 enthusiasts 2 are now getting ready to attempt a flight around the world next year. The new, improved version of the plane, named Solar Impulse 2, was recently unveiled in Switzerland.

在2012年成功的将一架太阳供能飞机从西班牙开往摩洛哥，并且于2013年使之穿越美国之后，瑞士航空狂热者如今正准备着尝试下一年使之环绕全球。这个新型的、改良过的被命名为太阳动力2号的飞机最近在瑞士公之于众。

Solar Impulse 2 is a single-seat airplane with a wingspan of 72 meters, but it weighs only about the same as a large car. The wings provide about 200 square meters of space for solar cells that charge lithium-ion batteries, needed to keep it flying at night. Its four electric motors allow it to cruise at a speed of up to 140 kilometers per hour, at an average altitude of 8,500 meters.

太阳动力2号是一架单人飞机，它翼幅72米，但重量却仅有一辆大型汽车那么重。机翼上有200平方米的地方用于太阳能电池给锂离子电池充电，以保证飞机在夜晚可以飞行。飞机的四个电力发动机使它的速度能够达到140km/h，在大约8500米的高空中航行。

The longest flight of its predecessor 3, Solar Impulse 1, made in May 2013 from Phoenix 4, Arizona to Dallas, Texas, was just over 1,500 kilometers.

它的前身，即2013年5月份制造出来的太阳动力1号，其最长航行距离是从亚利桑那的凤凰城到达德克萨斯州的达拉斯，全程大约仅有1500千米。

But pilot Andre Borschberg, who once flew jets for the Swiss Air Force, says Solar Impulse 2 - with favorable weather - will be able to fly much longer distances between stops.

然而，曾经为瑞士空军驾驶喷气飞机的飞行员Andre Borschberg说，在天气适宜的情况下，太阳动力2号能够在站点间飞行更远的距离。

“When we leave the coast of China, we don't know what the weather looks like on the other side of the ocean. So these are big question marks," said Borschberg.

“当我们离开中国海岸的时候，我们并不知道海的那一边天气如何。所以这是很关键的问题。”Borschberg说。

It took 12 years of research and testing, including flights of the previous version, to finally build the aircraft they believe will be able to fly around the world in 20 flying days spread over three months.

太阳动力2号，包括它之前的那些飞机，总共花费了他们12年的时间进行研究以及试验，他们相信，这架最终制造出来的飞机能够在未来的3个月中的20个飞行日内环航世界。

Chairman of the Solar Impulse project Bertrand Piccard says every detail on the airplane is designed for maximum efficiency.

太阳动力项目的领导者Bertrand Piccard说，飞机每一个细节的设计都尽可能的使之产生最大的功用。

“This airplane is an example of energy efficiency, how we save the energy, and how the energy from the sun is enough to keep the airplane in the air day and night," said Piccard.

“这架飞机就是一个能源有效利用的例子，我们存储的能量以及从太阳中获得的能量就足以使它在空中日夜航行。”Piccard说。

While flying on auto-pilot, either pilot will be able to sleep for a while, use the toilet, even exercise.

而且，自动驾驶的时候，任何一个飞行员都可以小睡一会儿，去趟厕所，甚至是锻炼一下。

Borschberg says the goal is not to promote building more solar-powered planes.

Borschberg说，他们的目的并不是想要建造很多的太阳能飞机。

“It is to bring products to their clients which are more energy efficient: in home buildings, in transportation, in appliances, it can be lighting," he said.

“我们的目的是将能源利用率更高的产品带给用户，可以用在家庭建筑，运输，电气方面。它有照明作用。”Borschberg说。

Solar Impulse 2 is scheduled to begin test flights in May, while the actual circumnavigation is planned to start next March from an airport somewhere in the Persian Gulf 5.

太阳动力2号预计在五月份开始飞行试验，而真正的环球飞行计划在下一年三月份开始于波斯湾某个地方的机场。