Solar plane completes 24-hour flight

The record feat brings it one step closer to the makers' ultimate aim of a flight that circles the globe over several days, using only energy from the sun.

The plane, with a 207ft wingspan, touched down at Payerne airfield about 31 miles south west of the Swiss capital Bern at 8am UK time.

The Solar Impulse team said the plane's 12,000 solar cells managed to store enough energy during the day to last through the night. They said it proves the plane can stay airborne around the clock.

Swiss former fighter jet pilot Andre Borschberg piloted the prototype four-engine aircraft and both he and the engineers cheered loudly as the plane passed the 24 hours milestone.

Scientists and engineers have worked in tandem to ensure the batteries are capable of storing sufficient energy to allow it to be piloted overnight until the sun can feed them again. The pilot has the difficult task of managing the energy use to stay aloft until sunrise.