The Blue Phoenix. A solar and wind powered paraglider

The blue phoenix is a paraglider powered through a unique sustainable, hybrid energy system. Equipped with an electric motor, Its combined wind power (for staying in the air, the usual manner paraglider do) and solar energy (from solar cells at its top allowing batteries to be recharged) it will be able to fly longer than a conventional paraglider. At some point it might even be able to fly continuously. With the progress of materials and motors, it becomes possible to build such a project.

The idea for this project has been around for a long time but it seems to be the first attempt to make it become real.
Considering the amount of fund required to build a full size prototype, the work has focussed on getting a smaller version to work and gather people, institutions and companies to participate to what could be viewed as a collaborative work.