Solar-Powered Plane Completes Bay Area Test Flight

A solar-powered plane that has wowed aviation fans in Europe took to the skies over the San Francisco Bay area in a successful test flight.  
 
Considered the world's most advanced sun-powered plane, the Solar Impulse took off from Moffett Field in Mountain View at first light Friday for a two-hour practice run leading up a multi-city, cross-country tour.
 
Its Swiss creator and pilot André Borschberg said the plane should be ready for the cross-country journey on May 1, depending on the weather.
 
The aircraft will stop in Phoenix, Dallas, Washington and New York.
 
Each flight leg will take 20 to 25 hours, with 10-day stops planned in each city.
 
Between Dallas and D.C., the plane will also stop at one of three other cities: Atlanta, Nashville or St. Louis.