18 August 2004

HAMBURG - Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard is planning a flight around the world in a single-pilot solar-powered aircraft, he told a German newspaper Wednesday.

In 1999 Piccard and co-pilot Brian Jones were the first people to balloon around the world non-stop.

Now, Piccard has launched Solar Impulse to repeat his global circumnavigation, this time in a pollution-free solar-powered aircraft, according to the interview with Die Zeit newspaper.

The proposed aircraft resembles a glider, but with a mammoth 70-metre wingspan, exceeding that of a Boeing 747.

Completely covered by solar cells and equipped with possibly two tail-mounted propeller engines, the plane will be capable of unassisted take-off and will carry the necessary batteries for night flying.

For the Solar Impulse project, Piccard is again teaming up with Brian Jones, his co-pilot aboard the record-breaking Breitling Orbiter 3 balloon five years ago.

He has appointed engineer and pilot André Borschberg as project manager and third pilot of the team.

"The challenge this time is to influence the history of air transportation by exploiting new technologies that satisfy the demands of our era for sustainable development and the use of only renewable forms of energy," Piccard explained.

DPA

Subject: German news