Solar Impulse: The solar-powered aeroplane

The Solar Impulse aircraft takes off at the airport in Payerne Photograph: Sebastian Derungs/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Sebastian Derungs/guardian.co.uk The solar-powered aircraft, with test pilot Markus Scherdel on board, takes off for its maiden flight at the military airport in Payerne, Switzerland Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AP Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/guardian.co.uk Test pilot Markus Scherdel gains altitude after he took off Photograph: Sebastian Derungs/AFP/Getty Images Solar Impulse is silhouetted in the sun during its maiden flight Photograph: Laurent Gillieron/AP Photograph: Laurent Gillieron/guardian.co.uk The solar powered aircraft Solar Impulse Photograph: Laurent Gillieron/AP The Solar Impulse aircraft lands at the airport in Payerne Photograph: Sebastian Derungs/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Sebastian Derungs/guardian.co.uk (Left to right) the Swiss scientist-adventurer and pilot Bertrand Piccard, test pilot Markus Scherdel and Solar Impulse CEO Andre Borschberg celebrate after the first test flight Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/guardian.co.uk