Solar plane makes its way back to Switzerland

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Friday, 06 July 2012 10:11

July 7, 2012

Solar Impulse, the Swiss-made plane that runs solely on solar power, is currently en route back home after taking off from Morocco, and will stop once in Spain, the Agence France-Press reports.

According to the news source, Bertrand Piccard is at the reigns of the aircraft, which left Morocco at about 6:00 a.m., bound for Barajas airport in Madrid. The plane features the same wingspan as a jumbo jet, but has virtually the same weight as a mid-sized car. No part of the aircraft is powered by jet fuel, but rather 12,000 solar cells that drive four electric motors.

The plane was forced to land in Morocco on Tuesday after it encountered strong headwinds, while it was on its way back from Rabat after another ground breaking flight across the desert. The current estimated time of arrival in Switzerland is still not known, however when it does make it back, it will have completed its first round trip through Europe and North Africa.

According to RedOrbit, the plane is the product of extensive engineering research that enabled it to fly more than 2,400 miles without using any fuel other than the sun.

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