<p><br /> A solar-powered aeroplane designed to fly day and night without fuel or emissions has made its first test flight above the Swiss countryside.<br /> </p><p><br /> The Solar Impulse, which has 12,000 solar cells built into its wings, is a prototype for an aircraft intended to fly around the world without fuel from 2012 to promote renewable energy.<br /> </p><p><br /> It glided for 90 minutes above western Switzerland at an altitude of 1,000m, with German test pilot Markus Scherdel at the controls.<br /> </p><p><br /> It took six years to build the carbon fibre aircraft, which has the wingspan of an Airbus A340 and weighs as much as a mid-size car.<br /> </p><p><br /> Photovoltaic or solar cells supply four electric motors with a maximum output of ten horsepower each. The plane is ultimately expected to attain an average flying speed of 70km/h and reach a maximum altitude of 8,500 metres.<br /> </p>
