The solar-powered airplane Solar Impulse 2, operated by pilot André Borscherg, took off from Seville, Spain, early Monday at 6:20 CET (7:20 AM Cairo time) for a 50 hour and 30 minute flight to Cairo.
"This is Solar Impulse’s penultimate flight before reaching their long-awaited finish line and starting point, Abu Dhabi," a travel update statement said.
The Swiss-made, solar-powered plane travels at an average speed of 75 km/h and travels at a maximum altitude of 28,000 feet (about 8500 meters), according to Solar Impulse's website.
The plane utilizes 17,248 solar cells that render fuel consumption unnecessary.
The aircraft weighs 2.3 tons (about 2080 kilograms) and has a wingspan of 72 meters.
"Although this is our second to last flight, the challenges of finishing this round-the-world tour remain as true as always," the statement said.
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