2011: A giant plane powered by the sun

paris air show

A groundbreaking sun-powered airplane -- Solar Impulse -- thrilled crowds at Paris in 2011.

Although it's a single-seater, its wingspan is almost as wide as a 747-400. Five years later, a similar plane -- Solar Impulse 2 -- made history by finishing a 17-leg, 16-month journey around the world, becoming the first airplane to circle the globe without a drop of fuel.

First published June 16, 2017: 5:33 PM ET

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