The first solar plane circled the Earth

On March 9, the Solar Impulse 2 solar-powered aircraft departed its first flight around the world.

>> The longest journey of solar planes

The first round-the-world flight with solar energy

Solar Impulse 2 will take off from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and end the first flight in Muscat, Omani's capital . It is expected that the journey will last five months with a total road of 35,000 km . The project is designed to attract the world's attention to this potential renewable energy source, thereby minimizing dependence on fossil fuels.

The aircraft weighs only 2,300 kg, equivalent to a car but has a wingspan of 72 m like the largest single-passenger aircraft, even longer than the Boeing 747 (68.5 m). ). On the wing of Solar Impulse, 17,000 solar panels are installed to power the aircraft. At the same time, it is also equipped with lithium-ion batteries for use at night.

Flight will last for 25 days, divided into 12 stages at speeds of 50-100 km / h. The flight is expected to stop in India, Myanmar and China before crossing the Pacific and flying across the United States and then Southern Europe, eventually returning to the Abu Dhabi starting point.

Two pilots Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg will alternate flight control. The aircraft is connected to a control center located in Monaco.

Total time to research, design and manufacture this aircraft up to 12 years . In 2009, the first version of this manned solar powered aircraft was launched and set a record for altitude and distance.

Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard said: " Renewable energy, typically solar energy, can do wonders. We want to show that an airplane can fly day and night. No need for a drop of fuel ". Bertrand also made the first round-the-world journey in a balloon in 1999.

The project is carried out by Bayer AG, Solvay, ABB, Schindler, Omega and Abu Dhabi's Masdar.