Russian adventurer to circle globe in solar-powered aircraft

Source: Xinhua| 2019-11-14 23:36:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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MOSCOW, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Russian veteran traveler Fyodor Konyukhov, 67, plans to perform a non-stop flight around the world by a solar-powered aircraft in the next two years, TASS news agency said Thursday.

"We have our eyes set now for 2020 or 2021," TASS reported, quoting Konyukhov.

The project, named Albatross, requires an airplane with an electric generator and solar modules as an energy source, the adventurer's own website said.

Russia's technological company ROTEC has been implementing the project.

The construction of the aircraft began in the second half of this year and was estimated to be completed in 20-24 months, the website said.

The route of the flight will be around 35,000 km, with 80 percent of it over the waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.

Konyukhov has made several voyages around the world using different means of transport, including a balloon, and he was the first Russian to visit the seven highest peaks of the world as well as the south and north poles.

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