The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 soared over the Statue of Liberty early Saturday morning, as it swooped into the city after taking off Friday night from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.
Advertisement
Ending the United States crossing at the Statue of Liberty “is a very strong moment for me”, said Borschberg as he approached NY, calling it a “symbol of the freedom of enterprise, the freedom to innovate”.
After a break during the winter months, on April 21, the Solar Impulse 2 resumed its flight from Honolulu, determined to finish its world tour.
The fifth and last stage of the solar plane’s flight across the USA was full of symbolism, both for Borschberg and for the aircraft’s other Swiss inventor, Bertrand Piccard. He said weather conditions will dictate when they embark and a decision will likely be made in flight as to where they land – either Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal or elsewhere.
After beginning in Abu Dhabi, the plane’s world tour was delayed in 2015 when some of its batteries were damaged on a flight between Japan and Hawaii.
A solar-powered airplane, attempting the first round-the-world solar flight, has landed in New York City. The solar powered plane has been making history throughout the past year as it makes its way around the world, showcasing the possibilities of green flight and just as impressively, human and machine endurance. “It’s to show what we can do with clean technologies”.
“On every stage of its journey, the plane has inspired the next generation of innovators and technologists to participate in our efforts to lead the way in increasing the share of renewables in our energy mix”. The final leg of the odyssey is from Europe to Abu Dhabi.
Advertisement
The single-seat aircraft has the wingspan of a Boeing 747 and is clad in 17,000 solar cells. Solar Impulse is considering using its know-how to develop solar drones that could do things such as monitor the oceans or follow hurricanes.
