Solar powered aircraft in Switzerland

Prototype of solar-powered airplane, Solar Impulse, successfully underwent the first flight test in Switzerland, with a speed of 45 kilometers per hour.

The project coordinator who helped lead the project said that Solar Impulse takeoff smoothly at Payerne Air Field. With the power 10 electric motors, light aircraft with a passenger and the pilot climbed slowly up to 1200 meters above sea level and landing after the air for 87 minutes.

Team of 70 people have worked seven years to build this solar plane and have a dream that there will be solar powered aircraft that travel the world in 2013.

Wingspan is almost the same aircraft with the Airbus A340 and weighs 1600 kilograms. Part-wing aircraft fitted 12,000 solar cells that can fill an electric motor and battery weighing 400 pounds.