Off the wire
• Commentary: China transition a boon for global growth  • China consumes over 40,000 tons of Vietnamese litchi so far in 2016  • Roundup: Cameroon launches inquiry into conduct of war against Boko Haram  • Major news items in leading German newspapers  • Norway's central bank keeps key rate unchanged at 0.50 pct  • Cambodia's royalist party voices support for China's rejection of arbitration over South China Sea disputes  • 6 Vietnamese detained for running online football betting ring  • China says China-EU ties getting more mature, profound  • Togo to receive 715 mln euros from EU, France and Germany  • Top news items of major Kenyan media outlets  
You are here: 　 Home

Solar powered aircraft lands in Spain after three-day Atlantic crossing

Xinhua, June 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

The aircraft Solar Impulse II which is powered completely by solar energy landed at the San Pablo airport in the Spanish city of Seville early on Thursday morning after a marathon crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

The crossing of the Atlantic was considered to be one of the most difficult stages of Solar Impulse II's round the world flight and took the plane, which is flown by Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard, two days, 23 hours and 10 minutes.

The Solar Impulse II was escorted to land by a pair of Eurofighters and by the Eagle Patrol of the Spanish airforce.

Piccard had taken off from JFK Airport in New York on Monday to begin his journey of almost 6,300 kilometers powered by just the heat of the sun.

It was the 15th stage of a round the world flight to promote the use of renewable energy sources which has already seen him and his incredible aircraft fly over Oman, India, Myramar, China, Japan and the United States. Endit