Brussels, 05/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - The Clarins Group (CLR) has announced that it will join the Swiss aeroplane “Solar Impulse” project as an “official supporter”. On 30 April a press release published by the cosmetics groups stated that, “The Clarins (CLR) distribution network throughout 150 countries, will offer Solar Impulse broad international visibility opportunities and subsequently relay project messages with conviction on: energy saving incentives, promotion of clean technologies for better use of energy and promotion of renewable energies”. The Solar Impulse project aims to provide a lift off to an autonomous and exclusively solar powered plane to fly during the day and night in a way that would enable it to cover the whole world without fuel and without producing any emission pollutants (EUROPE 9639). The first Solar Impulse prototype plane, the HB-SIA is currently being built in Dübendorf, near Zurich. It will have a wingspan of 61 metres and will weigh 1500 kg. Trial flights will begin at the beginning of 2009. (B.C)