The Solar Impulse 2 flew out of Seville airport on Monday, July 11, 2016, and is Cairo-bound, for the near-completion of a trip from the United Arab Emirates in March of 2015, the starting point and final destination. Swiss national Andre Borschberg is at the controls for the journey that will pass through through Algerian, Tunisian, Italian, Maltese and Greek airspace.
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Swiss pilot, Andre Borschberg, was at the controls for his last time on the way to Cairo and was set to hand over to fellow pilot, Bertrand Piccard, to complete the world tour.
The two pilots hugged as Piccard greeted Borschberg after he landed.
According to BBC, the Seville-Cairo leg of the trip should take the zero-fuel aircraft somewhere between 48 and 72 hours, depending on the weather. It’s now about 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles) away from Abu Dhabi, where it began its journey in March 2015.
However, shortly after takeoff the plane experienced technical difficulties and the Solar Impulse team had to decide whether to continue the risky flight across a vast expanse of ocean or turn back to Japan. “I love to fly this plane because when you’re in the air for several days you have the impression of being in a film of science fiction”. “We worship the [sun] too!” he said.
Tell us a bit about the pilots. I had the chance to do so many exploration flights such as the first day and night (26 hour flight with Solar Impulse 1), the first mission flight across Switzerland, the first global flight, and the longest solo endurance flight, lasting 5 days and nights over the Pacific Ocean.
Borschberg said a 20-day long flight could be on the cards.
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Piccard does not expect solar powered commercial planes any time soon. The plane spent the winter in Hawaii.
