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

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.

source : xinhua