A solar powered plane called the Solar Impulse 2, is making an attempt to set a record by flying around the world. The plane's flight mission began March 9 from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. There are two pilots on the plane, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. They have alternately taking in control of the plane during their long journey around the world.
The mission control center for Solar Impulse is in Monaco. There, a team of flight engineers, meteorologists, and other experts track and monitor closely the light conditions and the weather. The last leg flight started from Japan. The plane is scheduled to land in Hawaii on late Thursday or early Friday, July 2 and 3 respectively, after a five-day flight across the Pacific.
Solar Impulse has set records for the longest solar-powered flight and longest solo flight. However, Hawaii is not its last destination but only the eight leg of the planned 13-leg flight around the globe. Until now, the plane had already completed around 80% of its planned journey.
In its flight from Japan to Hawaii, the plane was solo-piloted by its co-owner and Swiss adventurer Borschberg. In a tweet from his small cockpit on Thursday, Borschberg, declared that the flight was challenging.
In order to receive a much solar power as possible, Solar Impulse needs to find clear skies during the day. At night the plane slows speed and descends at a lower altitude in order to conserve energy, since its running only on its batteries charged during the day. The pilot, Borschberg, can only rest for occasional 20-minute naps. This eight leg of the around-the-world flight is the most dangerous, since the pilot needs to spend five days in the tiny cockpit of the plane. Previously, on a solo flight, Amelia Earhart disappeared over the sea on a similar route.
After landing in Hawaii, the plane's flight will then continue to the ocean crossing to Phoenix with the pilot, Bertrand on the controls, this time. From Phoenix, the solar powered plane will go to the Midwest, then to New York City. The two final flights will cross the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, before making the complete circle around the globe and landing back to Abu Dhabi.
The journey around the globe is aimed to show that a flight in a plane powered only by sunlight is possible. It also tends to inspire and promote an environmentally friendly future. Solar Impulse's motors are powered by 17,000 solar cells. The plane only weighs about as much as a car, a little over 5,000 pounds but features a larger wingspan than a Boeing 747. Most of its weight are taken up by a huge battery that charges during the day with electricity converted by the solar panels and powers the plane at night.
