Solar plane successfully makes first test flight

London, Apr 8 (ANI): A prototype solar-powered plane has made its maiden test voyage from a Swiss airfield.

Coming closer to the goal of using solar energy to fly around the world, the Solar Impulse is a plane with a wingspan similar to that of a super-jumbo jet but weighing the same as a saloon car.

The plane's wings are covered by solar cells, which power four electric motors.

And the designers of the eco-friendly airplane hope that a slightly larger production model will circumnavigate the globe in two years' time.

The test flight was intended to verify that the plane's behaviour tallied with simulations.

"With such a large and light plane never having flown before, the aircraft's flight behaviour remains unexplored," the BBC quoted the flight team as saying in a statement.

Round-the-world balloonist Bertrand Piccard is leading the project, and wants to pilot the plane along with co-founder Andre Borschberg.

"It's a very important moment after seven years of work," said Borschberg before the take-off.

According to witnesses, both take-off and landing seemed to go smoothly. (ANI)