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1 of 7 from Solar Impulse aircraft flies, briefly (photos)
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The first plane designed to fly day and night without fuel, the Solar Impulse HB-SIA lifted off for its maiden flight on December 3 from its home at Dubendorf Airfield, near Zurich, Switzerland.
Four electric propellers and a bank of batteries powered the prototype craft on its test voyage, or "flea hop," as the Solar Impulse team calls it. The plane did resemble a huge insect hopping off the ground.
December 4, 2009 8:45 AM PST
Photo by: Solar Impulse
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