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Solar-powered plane soars over Golden Gate Bridge in fuel-free Pacific crossing (PHOTOS, VIDEO) | Solar-powered plane soars over Golden Gate Bridge in fuel-free Pacific crossing (PHOTOS, VIDEO) |
(35 minutes later) | |
After an unexpected nine-month delay, the Solar Impulse 2 aircraft has finally completed the ninth leg of its world tour. | |
The fuel-free plane touched down at Moffett Airfield, California, just before midnight local time following a two-and-half day journey across the Pacific Ocean. | The fuel-free plane touched down at Moffett Airfield, California, just before midnight local time following a two-and-half day journey across the Pacific Ocean. |
Piloted alternately by Swiss adventurers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, the giant dragonfly-shaped aircraft has been on a mission to fly around the world without a single drop of fuel since 2015. | Piloted alternately by Swiss adventurers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, the giant dragonfly-shaped aircraft has been on a mission to fly around the world without a single drop of fuel since 2015. |
More than 17,000 solar cells collect energy from the sun during the day, giving the plane enough solar energy to stay powered through the night. | More than 17,000 solar cells collect energy from the sun during the day, giving the plane enough solar energy to stay powered through the night. |
“I could continue all the way to New York,” Piccard said of the latest flight, which started out Friday. | “I could continue all the way to New York,” Piccard said of the latest flight, which started out Friday. |
“This flight was a huge step in the adventure and Bertrand Piccard accomplished it like a professional pilot,” Borschberg added. | “This flight was a huge step in the adventure and Bertrand Piccard accomplished it like a professional pilot,” Borschberg added. |
The solar-powered project – with a wingspan greater than a passenger jet – has accumulated more than 20,000km on this trip. With a top speed of 80km/h, the single seater flies at a snail’s pace in comparison to commercial airliners. | The solar-powered project – with a wingspan greater than a passenger jet – has accumulated more than 20,000km on this trip. With a top speed of 80km/h, the single seater flies at a snail’s pace in comparison to commercial airliners. |
But the Solar Pulse 2 team say journey is focused squarely on clean technology, showing that solar power can “improve our quality of life.” | But the Solar Pulse 2 team say journey is focused squarely on clean technology, showing that solar power can “improve our quality of life.” |
Hawaiian stopover | Hawaiian stopover |
So far the aircraft has completed trips to 10 cities across the globe, including a detour to the Japanese shipping hub of Nagoya due to bad weather. | So far the aircraft has completed trips to 10 cities across the globe, including a detour to the Japanese shipping hub of Nagoya due to bad weather. |
In July 2015, the team completed a record-breaking flight from Japan to Hawaii. The record saw André Borschberg pilot the plane solo for more than 117 hours. | In July 2015, the team completed a record-breaking flight from Japan to Hawaii. The record saw André Borschberg pilot the plane solo for more than 117 hours. |
“I feel exhilarated by this extraordinary journey. I have climbed the equivalent altitude of Mount Everest five times without much rest,” Borschberg said at the time. | “I feel exhilarated by this extraordinary journey. I have climbed the equivalent altitude of Mount Everest five times without much rest,” Borschberg said at the time. |
The 8,924-km flight came at some cost, however. The crew later found out that the aircraft’s batteries had overheated and needed to be replaced. | The 8,924-km flight came at some cost, however. The crew later found out that the aircraft’s batteries had overheated and needed to be replaced. |
The plane would stay grounded on the island of Oahu for more than nine months, until the ninth leg of its journey began last Friday. | The plane would stay grounded on the island of Oahu for more than nine months, until the ninth leg of its journey began last Friday. |
Piccard guided the plane over the San Francisco Bay area for two hours before his triumphant landing, posing for some incredible snapshots. | Piccard guided the plane over the San Francisco Bay area for two hours before his triumphant landing, posing for some incredible snapshots. |
The next stop for the green energy aircraft has yet to be determined, although its flight plan suggests a 30-hour flight to a city somewhere in the heart of the US. | The next stop for the green energy aircraft has yet to be determined, although its flight plan suggests a 30-hour flight to a city somewhere in the heart of the US. |
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