In a major step to the ultimate goal - a round-the-world flight without fuel - the world’s first international solar-powered flight over the European skies was completed May 13,2011 by Solar Impulse, a plane outfitted with solar panels. It landed in Belgium after a 12-hour journey from Switzerland May 13,2011, making its way through crowded European airspace, flying over France and Luxembourg before landing in Brussels to an enthusiastic welcome. The plane has made several short trips since its maiden flight last year, but negotiating the commercial air traffic system was a particular challenge. The project, by Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, began in 2003 with a 10-year budget of 90 million euros. A larger prototype is scheduled to fly around the world in 2013. Photo courtesy solarimpulse.com
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