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Solar Impulse 2 Completes Round-the-World Trip without a Drop of Fuel

July 26, 2016
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2 min read
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Solar Impulse 2 Completes Round-the-World Trip without a Drop of Fuel
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The future of air travel is here — and it doesn't include any jet fuel. On Sunday, the solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse 2 departed Cairo, Egypt for Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where it ended its around-the-world flight attempt — using only power from the sun.

Two pilots, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, took turns flying the aircraft on each of its 17 legs (the first of which was in March of 2015), and logged about 22,000 miles total on their trip. The aircraft itself is incredibly light — it only weighs as much as a typical SUV but its wingspan is as long as a Boeing 747. It was a record-setting flight in many regards — it's the first aircraft to complete a transatlantic flight (New York to Seville, Spain) without using any fuel, as well as the aircraft to complete the longest solo flight without fuel — traveling for five days and five nights (from Japan to Hawaii) using only solar energy.

The two pilots hope that their around-the-world, solar-powered flight shows the world that the future of aviation is indeed bright and it will be entirely possible (one day) to travel across the world without using thousands of gallons of jet fuel to do so.

H/T: CNN

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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