8 July 2010
The solar-powered Solar impulse experimental aeroplane has landed back at Payerne Airport, near Bern in Switzerland, after successfully completing a 24-hour. The aircraft used super-efficient solar cells and batteries to stay in the air throughout the night. According to reports, pilot Andre Borschberg had flown over the Jura mountains west of the Swiss Alps since daybreak yesteray, absorbing sunlight to charge the batteries.
During the flight the aircraft reached a height of 8,700 m (28,543 ft). It is the longest and highest flight recorded by a solar-powered aeroplane, with project founder, Betram Piccard, suggesting that the aircraft had three hours’ flight left when the sun rose.
The team behind the project now plan to work towards its aim of circling the globe using the power of the Sun to fuel the plane. <a href=”http://www.solarimpulse.com”>Click here for more</a>
