Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard who pilots the world’s first solar powered plane said he is bracing for a round-the-world trip from Switzerland to the far east via Abu Dhabi by the end of next year.
The pilot of experimental plane Solar Impulse told WAM that he discussed the arrangements for the trip in Abu Dhabi in the past two days.
The Solar Impulse which is made of carbon fibre and flies without fuel flew back to Switzerland after flying from Spain to Morocco as part of a rehearsal for an attempted round-the-world trip by an updated version of the plane to showcase renewable energy and encourage the use of clean, new technologies.
Piccard expressed gladness at completing the 2000-kilometre Switzerland to Morocco leg exclusively using the sun’s energy.
While in Abu Dhabi, Piccard gave a presentation on the plane which is powered by 12,000 photovoltaic cells that cover its wings to absorb solar energy and transfer it to the aircraft’s four batteries, which allow it to fly for up to five hours.
He said the Solar Impulse manufacturer will cooperate with Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s , on clean energy research and training as well as on designing carbon components.
The gigantic, but ultra-lightweight revolutionary airplane was invented by Piccard and Solar Impulse co-founder Andre Borschberg.
View News Headlines
