Solar Impulse aircraft silently crosses France

IF you are reading this on the morning of Tuesday July 24, 2012, then you can follow the route of the Solar Impulse aircraft as it crosses France.

The solar powered aeroplane took off from Toulouse this morning and is travelling across the south of France, heading towards the Swiss town of Payerne.

Solar Impulse is coming to the end of the first solar powered intercontinental flight, a 6,000 km journey, as it leaves Toulouse to head over the Massif Central.

It will then go west of Lyon towards Roanne and Mâcon and will approach the Franco-Swiss border in the area of Pontarlier this afternoon before landing at its home base.

You can follow the progress of the aircraft via a map as it crosses France, and with it flying at an altitude of around 3,600 metres it will be visible from the ground.

The aircraft is powered by 11,600 solar cells, and has a wingspan of 63 metres with a cruising speed of 70km/h.