Up, up and away! Solar-powered plane that aims to fly around the world takes off on historic 90-minute flight... at 28mph




A solar-powered plane that has been built to fly around the world took to the skies yesterday on an historic 90-minute flight using not one ounce of fuel. Four propellers lifted the massive 'Solar Impulse' off the ground at a maximum speed of 28mph on the runway at a Swiss military airport.

The test flight by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard's team was to see if the plane, which has the wingspan of a Boeing 747 and the weight of a small car, could keep a straight path. The team plans to fly it around the world in 2012.

Test pilot Markus Scherdel took the prototype plane to 3,280 feet before descending at a snail's pace and touching down smoothly to cheers from spectators.



Solar Impulse slowly takes to the air after trundling along the runway at a maximum speed of 28mph