This aircraft can fly without fuel

BANGALORE, INDIA: Bertrand Piccard, a Swiss adventurer, has built an experimental aircraft that flies by harnessing solar energy. Piccard has also undertaken a 19-hour journey on this solar-powered aircraft from Madrid to Morocco.

The adventurer reportedly used carbon fiber to build the body of the aircraft. He has named the aircraft as the “Solar Impulse” and says that it is as large as an Airbus A340 and is as light as a conventional family car.

According to Piccard, one can fly around in Solar Impulse without having to fuel it. He also says that just by harnessing the Sun's energy to the fullest, Solar Impulse will enable people to fly day and night. Piccard says that his next aim is to fly around the world in the Solar Impulse.

The aircraft's motors have a wingspan of more than 63 metres and enable the 400 kg polymer batteries of the aircraft to get charged. This drives the aircraft to fly around even in the night.

Bertrand Piccard even crossed the Gibraltar Strait in the Solar Impulse. The crossing of the Gibraltar Strait is considered a challenge by experts in the aviation sector.