The plane has five more legs to fly in its groundbreaking journey around the world. The plane has also set the record for the longest solar-powered flight. The plane took off from Japan on Sunday afternoon, after its team determined that the weather would permit a safe passage.
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Borschberg, flying alone in the plane which has a 72 metre (236 ft) wing span covered in more than 17,000 solar cells, but only a tiny unpressurised cockpit, had to face “difficult” conditions as the plane made its way over the Pacific.
Before taking off, the pilot said that this journey would be an “extraordinary occasion to discover myself”. “For @bertrandpiccard and I, it’s a dream coming true”.
Its Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg is attempting to circumnavigate the globe with an aircraft powered only by the sun’s energy.
The Solar Impulse 2 is the first aircraft to fly day and night without any fuel.
Since leaving Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in March, the plane has traveled to Muscat, Oman; Ahmedabad and Varanasi, India; Mandalay, Myanmar; Chongqing and Nanjing, China; and Nagoya, Japan. It has a 72-meter wingspan (larger than that of the Boeing 747) for a weight of just 2,300 kg, equivalent to that of a vehicle.
That being said, it’s clear that pilot Andre Borschberg isn’t your average human being.
Will Solar Impuse 2 inspire a whole fleet of solar planes? It took me a while to create a relationship of trust with the airplane, which allows me to rest and eventually sleep by periods of 20 minutes with the autopilot.
Solar Impulse 2 takes off at Al Bateen airport in Abu Dhabi.
Piccard expressed elation over the arrival of aircraft and pilot.
The pilot, born in Zurich, is no stranger to adventure.
Borschberg, born in Zurich, is no stranger to adventure – 15 years ago, he narrowly escaped an avalanche, and then in 2013 he was involved in a helicopter crash that left him with minor injuries.
Borschberg has previously worked as an army pilot and consultant for Swiss firm McKinsey, before dabbling in entrepreneurship, co-founding a company specialising in microprocessors.
“We can fly day and night in an airplane without fuel!” exulted Borschberg, delighted with his achievement. The 35,000 km journey has been divided into 12 manageable legs over a period of five months.
The single-seater Solar Impulse 2 landed around noon Eastern at Hawaii’s Kalaeloa Airport after flying nonstop from Japan, according to Solar Impulse’s website, which live-streamed the event.
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The plane touched down about 10 a.m. MDT after some 120 hours in the air, running on solar power only. However, the flight from Nagoya to O’ahu crossed the Pacific Ocean, meaning that Borschberg could have ended up stranded in the middle of nowhere with little hope of rescue. Borschberg performed yoga 30 to 45 minutes a day to stay fit and prevent any potential negative effects of immobility.
