Solar powered plane flies over Mediterranean

“That’s extremely rewarding that we’re able to go to Madrid and generate
energy at the same time, so that’s a big big gift”, Mr Borschberg told
reporters before take off.

The Solar Impulse project began in 2003 with a 10-year budget of 90 million
euros (£72m) and has involved engineers from Swiss lift maker Schindler and
research aid from Belgian chemicals group Solvay.

The plane, which requires 12,000 solar cells, embarked on its first flight in
April 2010 and completed a 26-hour flight three months later, setting a
record flying time for a solar powered aircraft.

In 2011, the plane and its crew completed the world’s first international
flights with a solar-powered airplane as they landed at Brussels and Paris
airports.

With an average flying speed of 70 kmph (44 mph), Solar Impulse is not an
immediate threat to commercial jets, which can easily cruise at more than 10
times that speed.

Project leaders also acknowledged it had been a major challenge to fit a
slow-flying plane into the commercial air traffic system.

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