Sun-powered plane ready for around-the-world trip

THE sun-powered plane The Solar Impulse glides over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco during a successful test flight yesterday.
The Solar Impulse flies over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Picture: APThe Solar Impulse flies over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Picture: AP
The Solar Impulse flies over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Picture: AP

The solar-powered airplane, made of carbon fibre sheets, is preparing for a journey around the world, scheduled to begin on May 1. The Solar Impulse is powered by about 12,000 photovoltaic cells that cover massive wings and charge its batteries, allowing it to fly day and night without jet fuel. It has the wing span of a commercial airplane but the weight of the average family car, making it vulnerable to bad weather. Pictures: Reuters/AP