Swiss pilots attempt first around-the-world solar flight

Bertrand Piccard and Andri(C) Borschberg will take turns piloting the single seater Solar Impulse 2 plane that is propelled solely by the sun

A Swiss pilot has begun the first ever attempt to fly around the world in a plane propelled only by the sun.

Andri(C) Borschberg and his compatriot Bertrand Piccard will take turns piloting the single seater Solar Impulse 2 for 21,747 miles (35,000km) over 12 legs, including gruelling five- to six-day stints across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The entire journey will take five months.