Solar Flight

A British family flew from their home to the Mediterranean — thanks to solar-powered batteries and biofuel.

Damien Cardozo, 39, and his family set a world record for the longest solar-powered flight by paramotor, a backpack-sized machine that has propellers and a parachute. The family (plus five extra pilots, for nine people in total) flew 1,242 miles from Monaco to Morocco, which took 15 days, according to the World Record Academy.

Their trip took them over France and Spain, plus a nerve-wracking flight over the shark-infested waters of the Straits of Gibraltar.

The trip raised £10,000 ($16,547) for Ataxia UK. Three of Cardozo's six children have the disease, which attacks the central nervous system, eventually resulting in loss of control of the body.

"It's been an epic trip. The last little bit over the Straits of Gibraltar was the most glorious flight," Cardozo told the BBC. "Whilst you're up there you feel a mixture of nerves looking down at the sea and thinking what would happen if your engine failed, and then a sublime happiness and peace."

Cardozo was joined on the trip by his daughter Tilly, 17, and brothers Cosmo, 26, and Gilo, 30, the latter of whose credentials include helping explorer Bear Grylls fly a powered paraglider over Mount Everest in 2007.

The family's trip home wasn't quite as luxe as they'd planned. After roughing it for 15 days they had to take a boat after their van broke down in Spain. Where are those solar-powered batteries when you need them?