Going Green

Round-the-world solar flight begins today

solar_impulseThe first attempt to fly around the world in a solar-powered plane will take off from Abu Dhabi on Monday, its pilots said, in a landmark journey aimed at promoting green energy.

The takeoff of Solar Impulse 2, which was delayed on Saturday due to high winds, would cap 13 years of research and testing by Swiss pilots Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard.

“This project is a human project, it is a human challenge,” Borschberg, cofounder and chief executive of Solar Impulse told reporters on Sunday.

The wingspan of the one-seater plane, known as the Si2, is slightly bigger than that of a jumbo jet, but its weight is around that of a family car.

It will take off from Abu Dhabi on Monday at 6:30 a.m. (0230 GMT), landing first in Muscat.

From there, it will make 12 stops on an epic journey spread over five months, with a total flight time of around 25 days.

Continue reading at Arab News:

Round-the-world solar flight begins today

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