Adventurer unveils solar-power plane

[Peter D]

ROUND-the-world balloooning pioneer Bertrand Piccard has unveiled his solar-powered aircraft in Switzerland, ready for another trend-setting circumnavigation of the globe powered solely by the sun.

The Swiss adventurer said the idea emerged after that 19-day hot-air balloon trip, when Orbiter was partly kept aloft by fuel canisters even if the wind ensured its progress eastwards.

"That historic success could have turned sour because of the lack of fuel," Mr Piccard said at the Dubendorf airfield.

"That's why we took the decision to attempt a trip around the world without relying on fossil fuels."

The seemingly flimsy carbon fibre concentrate of new technology has a 63.4m wingspan but weighs little more than a medium-sized car.

About 12,000 solar cells spread over its slender wings are meant to keep it aloft, fuelling four tiny ten-horsepower electric motors and 400kg of batteries that are, unusually, meant to keep it going overnight.

Wedged in the narrow cockpit, the lone pilot will also be helped to fly Solar Impulse by some novel control technology.

"Those are the wings of hope. They are immense, as is the challenge we have to meet in climate protection," said Swiss Transport, Energy and Environment Minister Moritz Leunberger.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/...014090,00.html