Solar plane leaves Cairo on last leg of globe-circling trip

CAIRO (AP) — An experimental solar-powered airplane took off from Cairo for Abu Dhabi early Sunday on the last leg of its globe-circling voyage, mission organizers said.

The wings of Solar Impulse 2, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries.

The solar project, which is estimated to cost more than $100 million, began in 2002 to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation.