Solar Impulse 2 Flies For 118 Hours Setting A World Record, Attempting To Circle The Globe
The Solar Impulse 2 set a new world record by flying for 118 hours straight. The flight covered 4,000 miles from Japan to Hawaii. The flight over the Pacific Ocean has been the longest stretch that the plane has flown so far. Flying over the Pacific Ocean was viewed as the most dangerous leg of the voyage. The reason being is because if something had gone wrong with the plane, there would have been nowhere to land. The Solar Impulse 2 could have suffered the same fate as Amelia Earhart.
Andre Borschberg has been staying active on Twitter while the Solar Impulse 2 is making history.
During 5 days and 5 nights, I relied on the power of the sun, without any technical problem. It was extraordinary! pic.twitter.com/IMxK9uzfWj
— André Borschberg (@andreborschberg) July 3, 2015
The success of @solarimpulse‘s flight to Hawaii fully validates the vision of my partner @bertrandpiccard pic.twitter.com/4Ysiry7rGj
— André Borschberg (@andreborschberg) July 5, 2015
The @solarimpulse engineers built a fabulous airplane, which demonstrates the reliability of clean technologies pic.twitter.com/MRrcWaynxC
— André Borschberg (@andreborschberg) July 3, 2015
Just landed in #Hawaii with @solarimpulse! For @bertrandpiccard and I, it’s a dream coming true pic.twitter.com/0y3xhIbnXN
— André Borschberg (@andreborschberg) July 3, 2015
Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard have been taking turns flying the aircraft.
The Solar Impulse is an aircraft that is using the power of the sun instead of conventional fuel. The solar aircraft is attempting to fly completely around the world.
Four months ago, the Solar Impulse 2 started the around-the-world flight in Abu Dhabi. Now that the plane is in Hawaii, the next stop will be Phoenix, Arizona. From Arizona, the Solar Impulse 2 will fly to a location in the Midwest and then on to New York. The electric plane is expected to touch down back in Abu Dhabi sometime in August.
In order to maximize power, the Solar Impulse 2 needs to fly in clear skies so that the full power of the sun can power the solar panels. At night, the plane is powered by batteries that are charged during the day and travels at a decreased speed and altitude in order to conserve power.
Bertrand Piccard spoke with USA Today last month and spoke about the importance of what the Solar Impulse 2 is trying to accomplish.
“The most important thing isn’t to make world records. It’s to show what we can do with clean technologies. We will never improve the situation if we continue to speak of climate change as a big and expensive problem, or by asking people to reduce their lifestyle to protect nature.”
[Image via Solar Impulse]
