An additional Dh81million is needed for Solar Impulse 2 to complete its round-the-world flight, the team has said.
The figure was an “initial estimation”, a spokeswoman for the team said, and the funds would cover the salaries of 150 people, logistics and material for the coming year.
Battery damage to the solar-powered plane has grounded the aircraft until at least April next year.
The plane was damaged during its record-breaking trans-Pacific flight from Japan to Hawaii piloted by Andrew Borschberg, one of the co-founders of the mission. Battery temperatures in the aircraft rose during the flight, with no way to cool the battery packs, the team said.
Mr Borschberg and fellow pilot and co-founder Bertrand Piccard aim for Solar Impulse 2 to be the first flight around the world for a plane without using fuel. They have also advocated for clean energy during their stopovers in various locations.
The aircraft took off from Abu Dhabi on March 9, stopping in Oman, India, Myanmar, China and Japan before flying across the Pacific after a series of delays due to bad weather conditions.
newsdesk@thenational.ae