First electric planes fly over English Channel

[LockH]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/aa6c...rst-electric-plane-flies-over-english-channel

About 12 hours before Airbus' Channel flight, French pilot Hugues Duval took his two-engine, one-seat Cricri plane from Calais to Dover and back.

Because he lacked authorization to take off from Calais, another fuel-driven plane towed his 100-kilogram (220-pound) Cricri for the start of the trip, he told The Associated Press. Then he flew autonomously back to Calais and landed safely.

He said he reached a speed of 150 kilometers (90 miles) an hour on his 52-kilometer (31-mile) journey.

EDIT: [C]omments amusing.

 

[Drunkskunk]

What I find interesting is that AP did a big writeup on the big corporation's plane, complete with lots of pics, but didn't pay much attention to the private individual who beat him 11 hours earlier. A few notes that Big Corp wouldn't comment, but no interview, no pics.