FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SUCCESSFUL FOR SOLAR IMPULSE

ISSOL follows closely the evolution of a technological marvel with the Solar Impulse, which performs its first official flight to Brussels, chosen as the first international destination.

The massive device, the size of an Airbus A340 (63.40 m) and weighing the weight of a car (1,600 kg), landed on the tarmac at Brussels airport on Friday evening shortly before 10:00 p.m. It landed on runway 02 after a long approach from the south-east of the capital.

Powered only by solar energy, whose wings are covered with 12,000 solar cells powering four electric motors with an output of ten horses, the Solar Impulse has taken off in the morning, around 8:40 a.m., from the airport of Payerne (west of Switzerland).

After a flight of 12 hours and 59 minutes without any fuel, powered by solar energy, Solar Impulse HB-SIA successfully landed in Brussels Friday, May 13, 2011 at 9:39 p.m.. A crowd of supporters came to welcome the solar plane Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg to celebrate his arrival in the European capital.

You can follow any developments on the adventure www.solarimpulse.com

Video of the landing of the Solar Impulse in Brussels: click here

Source: Solar Impusle www.solarimpulse.com