Night flying a Success for Solar Plane!

The solar-powered plane was launch yesterday and endured a 26 hour journey through the night. The plane landed in Switzerland approximately 30 miles for Bern (the Swiss capital) at around 07.00 this morning. The team who helped build the plane declared that there was still another three hours flying time left in the planes (solar-powered) battery cells. The team explained that once the sun’s light was out of the sight of the plane, the plane then used efficient solar cells, located in the wings of the plane, and batteries to remain in the air.

During the 26 hour flight, heights of around 28,543 feet were reached, making it both the longest and highest flight performed by a solar powered plane. As the plane touched down assistants, who had helped to build the plane over the last 7 years, rushed to the plane (that weighs the weight of an average family car and has a wingspan of 207 ft) to make sure it was all still intact. The teams were thrilled as this now meant that they were one step closer to achieving their dream of a solar powered plane big enough for a full load of passengers to travel across the world through the night. The team aim to achieve this goal by 2013. Mr. Piccard quoted “It’s the first time ever that a (manned) solar airplane has flown through the night. That was the moment that proved the mission was successful, we made it.”

Picture courtesy of Deutsche Bank AG

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