A solar-powered plane called, Solar Impulse-2, has begun an epic record-breaking flight around the world. The aircraft, which took off from Abu Dhabi, is heading east to Muscat in Oman.
The plane will fly from one continent to another over the next five months. It will also cross the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in the process. A Swiss pilot, Andre Borschberg was at the helms of control of the single-seater vehicle as it took off at 07:12 local time (03:12 GMT). He will share the pilot duties in due course with fellow Swiss, Bertrand Piccard.
The plane will stop at various locations around the globe, to rest and to carry out maintenance, and also to spread a campaign about clean technologies.
Speaking to newsmen before taking off, Borschberg said, “I am confident we have a very special aero plane, and it will have to get us across the big oceans. We may have to fly for five days and five nights to do that, and it will be a challenge. But we have the next two months, as we fly the legs to China, to train and prepare ourselves.”
Monday’s leg to Oman will cover about 400km and take an estimated 12 hours. Details of the journey are being relayed on the Internet.
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