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Solar Impulse lands in California after Pacific crossing Solar Impulse lands in California after Pacific crossing
(35 minutes later)
The solar-powered aeroplane Solar Impulse has landed in Silicon Valley, California, after a three-day flight over the Pacific Ocean.The solar-powered aeroplane Solar Impulse has landed in Silicon Valley, California, after a three-day flight over the Pacific Ocean.
High winds delayed the landing at Moffett Airfield, Mountain View, as pilot Bertrand Piccard flew in a holding pattern off the coast.High winds delayed the landing at Moffett Airfield, Mountain View, as pilot Bertrand Piccard flew in a holding pattern off the coast.
The plane left Hawaii on Thursday, after eight months of repairs following battery damage on a flight from Japan. The fuel-free plane left Hawaii on Thursday, after eight months of repairs to its batteries.
This is the ninth leg of its attempt to fly round the world.This is the ninth leg of its attempt to fly round the world.
"Can you imagine crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on a solar-powered plane just like ships did in past centuries?" Mr Piccard said from the cockpit after flying over San Francisco.
"But the plane doesn't make noise and doesn't pollute."
It was important, the Swiss pilot added, to "link the project... with the pioneering spirit in Silicon Valley".
All from the sun
Solar Impulse started its journey last March in Abu Dhabi. The trip has involved two different pilots flying separate legs.Solar Impulse started its journey last March in Abu Dhabi. The trip has involved two different pilots flying separate legs.
Solar Impulse gets all its energy from the sun, and has 17,000 photovoltaic cells on its top surfaces. The plane gets all its energy from the sun, and has 17,000 photovoltaic cells on its top surfaces.
These power the craft's propellers during the day but also charge batteries that the vehicle's motors can then call on during the night.These power the craft's propellers during the day but also charge batteries that the vehicle's motors can then call on during the night.
The distance on this leg was 4,000km or 2,200 nautical miles.The distance on this leg was 4,000km or 2,200 nautical miles.
Starting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in March, Solar Impulse crossed Oman, India, Myanmar, and China.Starting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in March, Solar Impulse crossed Oman, India, Myanmar, and China.
It then flew to Japan, before undertaking a 8,924km passage to Hawaii. That five-day, five-night crossing set a record for the longest ever non-stop solo aeroplane journey.It then flew to Japan, before undertaking a 8,924km passage to Hawaii. That five-day, five-night crossing set a record for the longest ever non-stop solo aeroplane journey.
However, the vehicle's batteries overheated during the trip, forcing the project to stop on the Pacific archipelago while repairs were conducted.However, the vehicle's batteries overheated during the trip, forcing the project to stop on the Pacific archipelago while repairs were conducted.
A further 20m euros (£16m; $23m) had to be raised from supporters during the winter to keep the project going for another year.A further 20m euros (£16m; $23m) had to be raised from supporters during the winter to keep the project going for another year.
Mr Piccard shares flying duties with his business partner, Andre Borschberg. New York next
Mr Piccard shares flying duties with his business partner, Andre Borschberg, who is also Swiss.
It was Mr Borschberg who flew into Kalaeloa last July, and he will take the controls on the next leg across the US mainland.It was Mr Borschberg who flew into Kalaeloa last July, and he will take the controls on the next leg across the US mainland.
The pair's intention is to reach New York by the start of June, to begin preparations for an Atlantic crossing.The pair's intention is to reach New York by the start of June, to begin preparations for an Atlantic crossing.
Assuming this is completed successfully, it should then be a relatively straightforward run back to the "finish line" in Abu Dhabi.Assuming this is completed successfully, it should then be a relatively straightforward run back to the "finish line" in Abu Dhabi.
Mr Piccard and Mr Borschberg have been working on the Solar Impulse project for more than a decade.Mr Piccard and Mr Borschberg have been working on the Solar Impulse project for more than a decade.
The plane's wingspan is wider than a 747 jumbo jet, and yet it weighs only 2.3 tonnes. A plane wider than a 747 jumbo jet but that weighs just 2.3 tonnes poses some unique challenges:
Because the prop-driven craft moves so slowly, mission legs can take several days and nights of continuous flight. Mr Borschberg told the BBC the experience was exhilarating and every flight yielded new lessons in how to "improve the quality, reliability and performance of the aeroplane".
This means the pilot has to stay alert for nearly all of the time the plane is airborne - they are permitted only catnaps of up to 20 minutes, in the same way a single-handed, round-the-world yachtsman would catch small periods of sleep.
They also have to endure the physical discomfort of being confined in a cockpit that measures just 3.8 cubic metres in volume - not a lot bigger than a public telephone box.
But Mr Borschberg says the experience so far has been exhilarating.
"An experimental plane is a living creation," he told BBC News. "Each flight you do brings new learning that you can use to improve the quality, reliability and performance of the aeroplane."
LEG 1: 9 March. Abu Dhabi (UAE) to Muscat (Oman) - 772km; 13 Hours 1 MinuteLEG 1: 9 March. Abu Dhabi (UAE) to Muscat (Oman) - 772km; 13 Hours 1 Minute
LEG 2: 10 March. Muscat (Oman) to Ahmedabad (India) - 1,593km; 15 Hours 20 MinutesLEG 2: 10 March. Muscat (Oman) to Ahmedabad (India) - 1,593km; 15 Hours 20 Minutes
LEG 3: 18 March. Ahmedabad (India) to Varanasi (India) - 1,170km; 13 Hours 15 MinutesLEG 3: 18 March. Ahmedabad (India) to Varanasi (India) - 1,170km; 13 Hours 15 Minutes
LEG 4: 18 March. Varanasi (India) to Mandalay (Myanmar) - 1,536km; 13 Hours 29 MinutesLEG 4: 18 March. Varanasi (India) to Mandalay (Myanmar) - 1,536km; 13 Hours 29 Minutes
LEG 5: 29 March. Mandalay (Myanmar) to Chongqing (China) - 1,636km; 20 Hours 29 MinutesLEG 5: 29 March. Mandalay (Myanmar) to Chongqing (China) - 1,636km; 20 Hours 29 Minutes
LEG 6: 21 April. Chongqing (China) to Nanjing (China) - 1,384km; 17 Hours 22 MinutesLEG 6: 21 April. Chongqing (China) to Nanjing (China) - 1,384km; 17 Hours 22 Minutes
LEG 7: 30 May. Nanjing (China) to Nagoya (Japan) - 2,942km; 1 Day 20 Hours 9 MinutesLEG 7: 30 May. Nanjing (China) to Nagoya (Japan) - 2,942km; 1 Day 20 Hours 9 Minutes
LEG 8: 28 June. Nagoya (Japan) to Kalaeloa, Hawaii (USA) - 8,924km; 4 Days 21 Hours 52 MinutesLEG 8: 28 June. Nagoya (Japan) to Kalaeloa, Hawaii (USA) - 8,924km; 4 Days 21 Hours 52 Minutes
LEG 9: 21 April. Kalaeloa, Hawaii (USA) to Mountain View, California (USA) - 4,200km LEG 9: 21 April. Kalaeloa, Hawaii (USA) to Mountain View, California (USA) - 4,200km; 62 Hours