Solar planes are flying around the world

Solar powered aircraft will depart for the first time, with a round-the-world voyage from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), next year.

>>> Solar Aircraft Solar Impulse 2 ended flight test

Pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg will make their flight on Solar Impulse 2 (SI2) , a completely solar powered aircraft. Itinerary will start from March next year and last about 4-5 months.

Solar planes will depart in March next year, making flights around the world in 4-5 months. Photo: Solar Impulse

According to a statement issued yesterday, SI2's flights will begin and end in the UAE's capital, Abu Dhabi. With the right conditions, proper infrastructure and a commitment to clean technology, Abu Dhabi was chosen as the best place for this trip.

SI2 is a new improved version, weighing 2.300kg and has a wingspan of 72m. The aircraft was designed with 17,000 solar panels, allowing it to fly for an indefinite period of time without fuel. On the itinerary, SI2 is scheduled to stop in Asia, the US, Southern Europe or North Africa, before returning to Abu Dhabi.

Live Science says that Borschberg and Piccard introduced SI2 in April and made their first test flight in June. During real time flying through the Atlantic and Pacific, pilots will stay in the airplane approximately. 5-6 days.

In 2013, two pilots on each of the first solar-powered aircraft were Solar Impulse (SI), on a journey from California to New York. SI runs entirely on solar energy and flies at night.