Solar-powered plane attempts global circuit

A Swiss solar-powered plane took off from Abu Dhabi, marking the start of the first attempt to fly around the world without a drop of fuel.

Solar Impulse founder André Borschberg was at the controls of the single-seater when it took off from the Al Bateen Executive Airport.

Borschberg will trade off piloting with Solar Impulse co-founder Bertrand Piccard during stopovers on a journey that will take months to complete. The Swiss pilots say their aim is to create awareness about replacing “old polluting technologies with clean technologies”.