Official reports have confirmed that Solar Impulse, which is a prototype of an airplane designed to fly all around the world by utilizing only solar power, successfully managed to make its first ever flight today. With the sun shining down on the Swiss countryside, the aircraft powered by as many as 12,000 solar cells made a flight of 87 minutes. It flew at an altitude of about 4,000 minutes.

Bertrand Piccard, the founder of the Solar Impulse program, tagged the first flight as a crucial and important step forward in fulfilling his goal of going around the globe in a similar and unusual airplane. He said that he was highly relieved that his hard work of seven long years had finally managed to pay off.

"This first mission was the most risky phase of the entire project. Eighty-seven minutes of intense emotion after seven years of research, testing and perseverance. Never has an airplane as large and light ever flown before!", he said.

The aircraft which has managed to complete the maiden flight has been christened HB-SIA for now and boasts a wingspan of a jumbo jet. It, however, weigh just about the same as an average sedan. Back in December, the airplane had reportedly managed a "flea hop" when it lifted some three feet off the runway and flew for some less than a quarter of a mile.

Test pilot Markus Scherdel called the first flight experience a "very intense moment".