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Solar Impulse lands in California after Pacific crossing Solar Impulse lands in California after Pacific crossing
(about 1 hour 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 from Hawaii.
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 fuel-free plane left Hawaii on Thursday, after eight months of repairs to its batteries. "The Pacific is done," he declared just before landing.
This is the ninth leg of its attempt to fly round the world. The latest leg of the round-the-world flight was the riskiest yet because of the lack of emergency landing sites.
"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. Fellow pilot Andre Borschberg hugged Mr Piccard when he stepped from the cockpit.
"But the plane doesn't make noise and doesn't pollute." Google boss Sergey Brin was also at the airfield to greet him. "It was a beautiful landing, we were right there watching," he said in a clip tweeted by the plane's media team.
It was important, the Swiss pilot added, to "link the project... with the pioneering spirit in Silicon Valley". Mr Piccard had talked earlier about the importance of linking "the project... with the pioneering spirit in Silicon Valley".
All from the sunAll from the sun
Solar Impulse started its journey last March in Abu Dhabi. The trip has involved two different pilots flying separate legs. "You know there was a moment in the night, I was watching the reflection of the moon on the ocean and I was thinking `I'm completely alone in this tiny cockpit and I feel completely confident'," Mr Piccard told reporters afterwards.
The plane gets all its energy from the sun, and has 17,000 photovoltaic cells on its top surfaces. "And I was really thankful to life for bringing me this experience, It's maybe this is one of the most fantastic experiences of life I've had."
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. With 17,000 photovoltaic cells on its top surfaces, the plane gets all its energy from the sun. 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. Solar Impulse started its journey in March of last year in Abu Dhabi, with the two pilots taking turns in the cockpit.
Starting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in March, Solar Impulse crossed Oman, India, Myanmar, and China. It crossed Oman, India, Myanmar and China before flying to Japan, from which it undertook the 8,924km (5,545-mile) passage to Hawaii.
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. 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, forcing the project to stop on the Pacific archipelago for eight months 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.
New York nextNew 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 two Swiss pilots' 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.
A plane wider than a 747 jumbo jet but that weighs just 2.3 tonnes poses some unique challenges:A plane wider than a 747 jumbo jet but that weighs just 2.3 tonnes poses some unique challenges:
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".
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; 62 Hours LEG 9: 21 April. Kalaeloa, Hawaii (USA) to Mountain View, California (USA) - 4,200km; 62 Hours 29 Minutes