Sucessful night-flight of Solar plane makes

This is one 'fly-by-night' operator we are sure happy about. A giant glider-like aircraft has completed the first night flight propelled only by solar energy. Solar Impulse, whose wingspan is the same as an Airbus A340, flew 26 hours and 9 minutes, powered only by solar energy stored during the day. It was also the longest and highest flight in the history of solar aviation, organizers said.


The Solar Impulse, a solar-powered HB-SIA prototype airplane, is prepared for its first night flight attempt at Payerne airport, Switzerland on July 7, 2010.

The aircraft took off July 7 at 06:51 am and reached an altitude of 28,543 feet by the end of the day. It then slowly descent to 4,921 feet and flew through the night on the batteries, charged during the day by 12,000 solar cells, which powered the four electric motors. The aircraft landed on July 8 at 09.00 am.