Solar Impulse 2, which is on a world tour landed in Cairo today for its penultimate stop. This leg of the trip had been expected to last about 50 hours and 30 minutes.
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The two pilots who have shared the flying obligations around the globe are every taking one more turn at the controls. “Solar Impulse’s arrival in Egypt is further proof that clean energy is a viable technology in the realisation of a more sustainable future”, said Mr Baselaib. After landing in Cairo, Si2 will be ideally positioned to attempt the last leg of adventure and reach Abu Dhabi where the adventure started in March 2015. The aircraft – which weighs about the same as a auto – has a cruising speed of around 70 kilometres an hour (43 mph).
Piloted by Andre Borschberg, the solar-powered plane left Seville Airport at 12:20 a.m. EDT.
The odyssey this time will take the solar-powered plane over a number of airspaces, including Tunisia, Algeria, Malta, Italy, Greece and finally Egypt.
The exhilarated 58-year-old told AFP at the time he had thought a lot about aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh, the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic, during the 6,765-kilometre flight.
Borschberg piloted the plane across the Pacific Ocean, from Nagoya, Japan to Hawaii; a 118-hour endeavor. They charge batteries that drive electric motors.
A plane powered entirely by the sun has set off from Seville on the last leg of its journey around the world.
“There will not be passengers very soon in solar airplanes like ours”, he said.
It is to inspire people to use renewable technology.
Picard said the plane could fly continuously.
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In a tweet, as Borschberg was preparing for landing, he said “I’m exhausted but also feeling emotional about nearing the end”.
