First global solar plane to come calling in March



A solar-powered plane will be visiting India in early March with halts at Ahmedabad and Varanasi as part of its world tour. It will be for the first time in world aviationhistory that a solar-powered plane will fly around the world.
Brainchild of founders-cum-pilots Bertrand Piccard (initiator and chairman) and André Borschberg (CEO), the plane's design team is led by André Borschberg, a seasoned flight design engineer, entrepreneur and former Swiss fighter pilot. In India, the plane will be hosted by Aditya Birla group.
It has been learnt that the plane, which can fly at a maximum speed of 140 kph, has to charge batteries during the day time by cruising at about 28,000 feet and later descend to around 5,000 feet after the sunset. The plane is designed in such a way that the pilot's seat can act as his bed and also as toilet, on reclining.

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