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Solar Impulse completes round world flight

August 2, 2016

The first round-the-world solar powered flight has been completed, after the Solar Impulse aircraft touched down in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Bertrand Piccard piloted the plane for a final time.

The last stage was from the Egyptian capital Cairo to Abu Dhabi.

The aim of flying Solar Impulse around the world is  to promote renewable energy.

“The future is clean. The future is you. The future is now. Let’s take it further,” Mr Piccard said.

The 17-stage journey covered some 42,000km, taking in four continents, three seas and two oceans. It began in Abu Dhabi on 9 March last year.

Solar Impulse Facts

  • Solar Impulse is no heavier than a car, but has the wingspan of a Boeing 747.
  • It is powered by 17,000 solar cells.
  • The cockpit is about the size of a public telephone box.
  • The pilots had to wear oxygen tanks to breathe at high altitude.
  • The pilots were permitted to only sleep for 20 minutes at a time.
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4 comments

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2
Campbell

Cool! But I thought that this would all be about new and improved solar power not promoting solar.

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3
MOOLLY

wow

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4
Hannah

Wow! That's amazing!