Solar Impulse 2 flies around the world

Solar Impulse 2 aircraft, powered only by the sun, successfully took off today from Abu Dhabi, to fly around the world.

Images credit Solar Impulse
Above: Solar Impulse 2 flying over the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.  Image Solar Impulse

The ultra-lightweight Solar Impulse 2 piloted by the project co-founders André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, successfully took off today from Abu Dhabi and is currently en route to Muscat, the capital of Oman located 400 kilometers (250 miles) to the east.

You can watch Live the Solar Impulse 2 journey here.

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The solar plane for the next five months will attempt the historic journey, that will cover 12 stops across the world.

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The Solar Impulse 2 Takes Off in Abu Dhabi.  Image Solar Impulse

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Solar Impulse 2 on a test flight over Abu Dhabi earlier in the month. Image Solar Impulse

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Pilots Borschberg and Piccard in front of the cockpit.

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Mission control in Monaco.  Image Solar Impulse

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source Solar Impulse