Solar-powered planes still a long way from carrying passengers

Washington

BERTRAND Piccard made headlines last Saturday when he glided a solar-powered plane onto Moffett Airfield in California after a three-day journey across the Pacific Ocean. It's the most recent stop in an around-the-world trip that began in Abu Dhabi last spring and is intended to raise awareness about the importance of reducing carbon emissions through the use of clean energy.

The plane itself, Solar Impulse 2, is a true zero-fuel aircraft, powered by more than 17,000 solar cells. It's designed to carry just one pilot - Mr Piccard and his colleague Andre Borschberg have been tag-teaming the journey around the world - and has the wingspan of a jumbo jet, although it weighs only two tonnes.