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MacCready Solar Challenger
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<p>The Solar Challenger was a <a href="/facts/Solar-powered_aircraft/txU0ouMl">solar-powered aircraft</a> designed by <a href="/facts/Paul_MacCready/UxkqDs1R">Paul MacCready</a>'s <a href="/facts/AeroVironment/WvAy2kaR">AeroVironment</a>. The aircraft was designed as an improvement on the <a href="/facts/Gossamer_Penguin/59K6dzu6">Gossamer Penguin</a>, which in turn was a solar-powered variant of the <a href="/facts/Human-powered_aircraft/Hg4brNs1">human-powered</a> <a href="/facts/Gossamer_Albatross/9EyGD5qr">Gossamer Albatross</a>. It was powered entirely by the <a href="/facts/Photovoltaic_cells/3L814UCC">photovoltaic cells</a> on its wing and stabilizer, without even reserve <a href="/facts/Battery_(electricity)/bqEpm4ue">batteries</a>, and was the first such craft capable of long-distance flight. In 1981, it successfully completed a 163-mile (262 km) demonstration flight from France to England. </p>