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World’s first solar-powered plane to fly five days non-stop

The solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2 flies over the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi on February 26, 2015 (AFP Photo)

ABU DHABI: The first attempt to fly around the world in a plane using only solar power launched Monday in Abu Dhabi in a landmark journey aimed at promoting green energy.

The Solar Impulse 2, piloted by Andre Borschberg of Switzerland, took off at 7:12 am (0412 GMT) from Al-Bateen airport and headed to Muscat, the capital of Oman, where it is expected to land later Monday after the first leg of the journey.

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