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Daredevil pilots become the first to complete round-the-world trip in sun-powered plane after epic 18,000-mile journey

Solar Impulse 2 touched down in Abu Dhabi in the early hours of this morning

A DAREDEVIL Swiss pilot has finally completed the first round-the-world-flight in a solar-powered plane.

Pilot Bertrand Piccard touched down in Abu Dhabi in the early hours of this morning after an epic 18,600-mile journey in the giant Solar Impulse 2.

Fellow pilots caught the moment the plane entered Abu Dhabi as it entered the final few miles of its epic journey
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Fellow pilots caught the moment the plane crossed Abu Dhabi as it entered the final few miles of its epic journeyCredit: Twitter
Solar Impulse 2 began the final leg of its round-the-world trip from Egyptian capital Cairo on Sunday
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Solar Impulse 2 had begun the final leg of its round-the-world trip from Egyptian capital Cairo on SundayCredit: EPA
The plane, sitting ready for take-off at Cairo, requires a huge ground crew to keep it in the air
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The plane, sitting ready for take-off at Cairo, requires a huge ground crew to keep it in the air for up to five days at a timeCredit: Getty Images
Astonishing images of the plane moving over the Pyramids of Giza were released just hours after the final leg to Abu Dhabi began
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Astonishing images of the plane moving over the Pyramids of Giza were released just hours after the final leg to Abu Dhabi beganCredit: AP:Associated Press
The final leg between Cairo and Abu Dhabi lasted for 48 hours
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The final leg between Cairo and Abu Dhabi lasted for 48 hoursCredit: Polaris / eyevine

Experts feared the plane might struggle to complete the last leg from Cairo to the emirate because of extreme 54c temperatures currently blasting Arabia.

But the giant aircraft - powered only by the sun's rays - finally touched down after the 17th, and final, leg following a 48-hour journey from the Egyptian capital.

Other legs saw the 71 metre-wide plane cross the entire Atlantic Ocean, and cover the Pacific from Japan to Hawaii.

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Its journey began back in March from the United Arab Emirates and saw it cross India, China and the USA before flying to Seville in Spain and across North Africa.

The plane has a top speed of 87mph - compared with a Boeing 747, which can cruise at 555mph.

Piccard is being supported by co-pilot Andre Borschberg, alternating between flying shifts at the controls of the plane.

Both are cramped into a cockpit the size of a phonebox and have to use a hole in their seat if they want to go to the toilet.

Bertrand Piccard (pictured) and co-pilot Andre Borschberg had to live in cramped conditions during the 17 separate legs of the five-month expedition
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Bertrand Piccard (pictured) and co-pilot Andre Borschberg had to live in cramped conditions during the 17 separate legs of the five-month expeditionCredit: Getty Images
Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard (C) and pilot Andre Bordchberg (L) after landing at San Pablo airport in southern Spain. They landed in the city after cross the Atlantic Ocean
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Piccard (C) and pilot Bordchberg (L) after landing at San Pablo airport in southern Spain. They landed in the city after crossing the Atlantic OceanCredit: EFE
The plane took in the Statue of Liberty as it cross New York earlier this month
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The plane took in the Statue of Liberty as it passed New York earlier this monthCredit: Getty Images

The cockpit has no heating and the pair can go without using the legs for up to five days at a time during the longest sections of the trip.

Prior to landing, the team tweeted: "The whole #solarimpulse crew is gathered for one last ground crew briefing! We'll never forget this one!"

Piccard's achievement comes 17 years after the 58-year-old became to first man to circumnavigate the globe in a balloon.

He now believes the path has been cleared for solar-powered planes to start carrying passengers in the near future.

Solar Impulse is powered by about 12,000 photovoltaic cells that cover its massive wings
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The aircraft has a maximum speed of 87mph, but Piccard believes it will open the path for solar-powered commercial air travel to become viable
The journey comes 17 years after Piccard became the first man to circumnavigate the globe in a balloon
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The journey comes 17 years after Piccard became the first man to circumnavigate the globe in a balloonCredit: AP:Associated Press

The dad-of-three said: "I make the bet that in ten years we will have electric aeroplanes flying with 50 passengers for short to medium-haul flights.

"You can fly with no pollution and no noise - purely electric - and landing in urban airports, making no disturbance for the neighbours.

"So, it will be a market for aviation and transport. And maybe sometimes people will say this all started with a crazy idea of flying around the world in a solar aeroplane, and the outcome was useful for everyone."

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