瑞士太陽能飛機開始環(huán)球飛行

A solar-powered Swiss airplane took off from AbuDhabi early Monday on the first leg of what itscreators hope will be the first around-the-worldjourney without any fuel.

瑞士制造的一架太陽能飛機星期一清晨從阿布扎比起飛。制造者們希望這架飛機能夠首次完成無燃料環(huán)球飛行。

The carbon fiber single-seater Solar Impulse 2aircraft has a 72-meter wingspan, which is longerthan the wingspan of a Boeing 747, and weighsabout as much as a car. The 17,000 solar cells builtinto the wings harness the sun's energy, allowing itto fly through the night.

用碳纖維材料制造的單人座“太陽能動力2號”翼展為72米，超過波音747，重量則僅相當于一輛汽車。安裝在機翼上的1萬7千個太陽能電池儲存能量，以供夜間飛行。

The Si2 took 12 years to build and is the brainchild of two Swiss scientists - Bertrand Piccardand Andre Borschberg.

制造“太陽能動力2號”費時12年。設計者是瑞士科學家皮卡德和博奇伯格。