Solar Impulse 2: Sun-powered plane takes off in bid to be first to fly round the world

The craft is plane wider than 747 but lighter than a  family car and is planning to complete the trip in five months

A Swiss solar-powered plane has taken off from Abu Dhabi at the start of the first ever attempt to fly around the world without using a drop of fuel.

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

The plane is expected to reach its first destination - Muscat, Oman - after about 10 hours of flight.

Some legs of the trip, such as over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, will mean five or six straight days of flying solo.

The lightweight Solar Impulse 2, a larger version of a single-seat prototype that first flew five years ago, is made of carbon fibre and has 17,248 solar cells built into the wing that supply the plane with renewable energy. The solar cells recharge four lithium polymer batteries.

The company says the plane has a 236ft wingspan, larger than that of a Boeing 747, but only weighs about as much as a car at around 5,070 lbs.

Mr Borschberg will swap piloting duties with Solar Impulse co-founder Bertrand Piccard during stop-overs.

The craft is plane wider than 747 but lighter than a  family car and is planning to complete the trip in five months

A Swiss solar-powered plane has taken off from Abu Dhabi at the start of the first ever attempt to fly around the world without using a drop of fuel.

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

The plane is expected to reach its first destination - Muscat, Oman - after about 10 hours of flight.

Some legs of the trip, such as over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, will mean five or six straight days of flying solo.

The lightweight Solar Impulse 2, a larger version of a single-seat prototype that first flew five years ago, is made of carbon fibre and has 17,248 solar cells built into the wing that supply the plane with renewable energy. The solar cells recharge four lithium polymer batteries.

The company says the plane has a 236ft wingspan, larger than that of a Boeing 747, but only weighs about as much as a car at around 5,070 lbs.

Mr Borschberg will swap piloting duties with Solar Impulse co-founder Bertrand Piccard during stop-overs.