Everyone said wind turbines should stay on land — Then engineers built a plane with 17,000 solar panels, and it ended up flying nonstop for 90 days at 45,000 feet on pure sun power

A new invention that flies nonstop for 90 days is about to forever alter our presence in the skies.

Flying comes with its own set of issues to consider. Efficient planes that use less fuel are a complex creation that often requires millions of dollars to develop, and some even fail to provide long-distance transportation without the need to switch flights.

But what would you say if we told you there is a new development that harnesses the power of the sun for uninterrupted flight?

We’ve even produced solar energy in space. But we’re still making flat panels

With recent advancements in solar power technology, clean fuel for flights may be a real possibility.

One new development is “solar skin,” a type of solar panel that looks and feels like clingwrap. Couple that with solar fabric, and the possibilities are endless. Other technical innovations include solar-powered cars, new solar panels that operate at night, and new solar curtains that can be installed at home.

We have even developed solar power that’s beamed down from space, where our proximity to the sun is much better.

Yet down here on earth, we still make use of flat solar panels. As new solar projects reach record outputs, the reality is that the aeronautical industry has not yet benefited from clean energy. Space solar is now a real possibility, but more needs to be done.

You see a plane, but it’s something quite different and innovative

What’s that in the sky, a bird? A plane? And no its not Superman.

It may look like a plane to you or me, but it is something entirely different that leaves you in shock and awe. The Skydweller invention can fly uninterrupted for extended periods without the need to even think about landing. How it achieves this may not be believable, but it is true.

US tech startup Skydweller Aero has been working alongside a French electronics company, Thales, to develop the latest innovation powered by the sun.

As renewable energy powers our lives more and more with every passing day, this unit is the latest innovation that may have far-reaching implications for aeronautical and the transportation sector as a whole.

But what would you think if the device were your next option to head across the United States?

The innovation may influence the defense sector as well. Skydweller may become the solution to our military concerns and drastically reduce lives lost on the battlefield.

While recent solar advancements have seen panels that are able to operate in cold weather, the Skydweller rests easy in the skies, as the name suggests.

Item flies nonstop for 90 days and produces a record amount of energy

The Skydweller has become significant as the 216,000 kWh of electricity it produces annually is enough to light up roughly 20 average households for an entite year.

This is based on the maths that the typical US household consumes approximately 10,800 kWh annually. So if we divide the power produced by the Skydweller by the power needed by the average household, it has become clear that the plane can easily power 20 homes for 12 months.

The unit can then draw all the necessary power for flight from the solar panels, alternating from 45,000 feet to reduce power usage. While some see solar as an answer to reduce home electricity bills, this device may offer military operations a safer path to keeping pilots alive.

Recent studies have raised alarm bells as to the impact of solar panels on wildlife. The Skydweller has reached record levels of solar power, hitting the 100 kilowatts of power mark consistently. The system works by collecting power during the day, storing it in the 1,400 pounds of batteries on board to sustain long periods of flight.

As drones litter the battlefield, the Skydweller may become the latest must-have for the US military.