Cessna 172 Skyhawk vs Solar Impulse 2
Top speed, range, size and history side by side. Each was built for its own job, so this shows how they differ, not which is better.
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is faster: 302 km/h against 90 km/h for the Solar Impulse 2. The Solar Impulse 2 flies further: 40,000 km against 1,289 km for the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The Solar Impulse 2 has the wider wingspan: 71.9 m against 11 m for the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The Solar Impulse 2 is heavier at takeoff: 2.3 tonnes against 1.16 tonnes for the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The Cessna 172 Skyhawk first flew in 1955, 59 years before the Solar Impulse 2 (2014).
| Cessna 172 Skyhawk | Solar Impulse 2 |
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| Top speed | 302 km/h (188 mph) | 90 km/h (56 mph) |
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| Range | 1,289 km (801 miles) | 40,000 km (24,855 miles) |
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| Length | 8.3 m (27 ft) | 22.4 m (73 ft) |
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| Wingspan | 11 m (36 ft) | 71.9 m (236 ft) |
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| Max takeoff weight | 1.16 t (2,557 lb) | 2.3 t (5,071 lb) |
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| First flight | 1955 | 2014 |
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| Crew and capacity | 1 pilot, 3 passengers | 1 pilot |
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| Engines | 1 × piston | 4 × electric, solar powered |
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| Built by | Cessna | Solar Impulse |
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| Country | USA | Switzerland |
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