Solar Impulse: The solar-powered aeroplane

8 March 2010: The solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse (HB-SIA prototype) had its maiden flight at the military airport in Payerne, Switzerland, yesterday. The prototype, with the wingspan of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a small car, started to a two-hour test flight to examine whether the plane can keep a straight trajectory. The Solar Impulse project aims to circumnavigate the world with an aircraft powered only by solar energy

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