 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Brussels (UPI) May 14, 2011 The completely solar-powered Solar Impulse plane finished its first international flight, from Switzerland to Brussels, in about 13 hours, officials said. CNET.com reported Saturday the plane, its 200-foot wingspan covered by more than 12,000 solar panels, flew the mission Friday without fuel and without producing any pollution. The plane, piloted by Andre Borschberg, took off from Payerne Airfield in Switzerland shortly before 9 a.m. Friday and climbed to an altitude of about 12,500 feet. It landed in Brussels about 9:40 p.m. The plane relies on energy produced by the sun and stored in special batteries to keep it aloft. The plane first flew in 2009. It's owners plan a cross-Atlantic trip later this year, to be followed by an around-the-world trip in 2013.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com
Swiss solar aircraft makes first international flightPayerne, Switzerland (AFP) May 13, 2011 Pioneering Swiss solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse ambled over Europe into Belgium on Friday on its first international flight, with the pilot reporting that everything was running smoothly. "The flight is going really well, I have just flown over Liege, it's a real pleasure to enter Belgian airspace," Andre Borschberg said as the dragonfly-like aircraft cruised at 50 kilometres (31 miles ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook
