Solar plane completes first intercontinental flight

Melbourne, June 6 (ANI): A solar-powered plane that took off on the world's first intercontinental flight has landed in the Moroccan capital Rabat after flying across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain.

Bertrand Piccard, a 54-year-old Swiss psychiatrist and balloonist, landed Solar Impulse at 11:30pm on Tuesday (8.30am Wednesday AEST) under a full moon at Rabat Sale airport where he was welcomed by officials of the Moroccan Solar Energy Agency (MASEN), News.com.au reported.

Big marquees had been erected near the airport for the organisers of the flight.

The plane was to stay in Rabat for five days before taking off for Ouarzazate in the south of Morocco for the launch by King Mohammed VI.

The solar plane had taken off from Madrid's Barajas airport on Tuesday at 5:22am (1.22pm AEST). (ANI)