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Solar Impulse plane lands in Hawaii | Solar Impulse plane lands in Hawaii |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Solar Impulse, the aeroplane that is powered only by the sun, has landed in Hawaii after making a historic 8,000km flight across the Pacific from Japan. | Solar Impulse, the aeroplane that is powered only by the sun, has landed in Hawaii after making a historic 8,000km flight across the Pacific from Japan. |
Pilot Andre Borschberg brought the vehicle gently down onto the runway at Kalaeloa Airport just before 06:00 local time (16:00 GMT; 17:00 BST). | Pilot Andre Borschberg brought the vehicle gently down onto the runway at Kalaeloa Airport just before 06:00 local time (16:00 GMT; 17:00 BST). |
The distance covered and the time spent in the air - 118 hours - are records for manned, solar-powered flight. | The distance covered and the time spent in the air - 118 hours - are records for manned, solar-powered flight. |
The duration is also an absolute record for a solo, un-refuelled journey. | The duration is also an absolute record for a solo, un-refuelled journey. |
Mr Borschberg's time betters that of the American adventurer Steve Fossett who spent 76 hours aloft in a single-seater jet in 2006. | Mr Borschberg's time betters that of the American adventurer Steve Fossett who spent 76 hours aloft in a single-seater jet in 2006. |
Despite being in the cockpit for so long, the Swiss pilot told the BBC that he did not feel that tired: "Interestingly, not really. | |
"I am also astonished. We got so much support during the flight from so many people; it gave me so much energy." | |
He said he looked forward to having a shower and visiting one of the many steakhouses suggested to him on the way into Hawaii's Oʻahu island. | |
"We have some work to do, and to meet people. Because I am sure a lot of people will want to see the aeroplane and discuss its technologies, but there is no way we shouldn't try some surfing," he joked. | |
Meeting Mr Borschberg in Kalaeloa was his partner on the Solar Impulse project, Bertrand Piccard. | |
The pair are sharing flying duties in their quest to circumnavigate the globe - an effort they began in Abu Dhabi, UAE, back in March. | The pair are sharing flying duties in their quest to circumnavigate the globe - an effort they began in Abu Dhabi, UAE, back in March. |
It is Mr Piccard who will now fly the next leg from Hawaii to Phoenix, Arizona. | It is Mr Piccard who will now fly the next leg from Hawaii to Phoenix, Arizona. |
That will not be quite as far as the leg just completed, but it will still likely take four days and nights. | That will not be quite as far as the leg just completed, but it will still likely take four days and nights. |
From Phoenix, Solar Impulse will head for New York and an Atlantic crossing that would eventually see the plane return to Abu Dhabi. | From Phoenix, Solar Impulse will head for New York and an Atlantic crossing that would eventually see the plane return to Abu Dhabi. |
But, first, the Solar Impulse ground crew in Kalaeloa will need a few days to check over the aircraft. | But, first, the Solar Impulse ground crew in Kalaeloa will need a few days to check over the aircraft. |
During this servicing, meteorologists will once again take on the tricky task of finding a suitable flight window. | During this servicing, meteorologists will once again take on the tricky task of finding a suitable flight window. |
Getting Solar Impulse to Hawaii proved more problematic than anyone could have imagined. | Getting Solar Impulse to Hawaii proved more problematic than anyone could have imagined. |
The project was stuck in Nanjing, China, for five weeks before the first attempt to cross the ocean was made. | The project was stuck in Nanjing, China, for five weeks before the first attempt to cross the ocean was made. |
Solar Impulse's lightweight and large, 72m wingspan put significant constraints on the type of weather conditions it can handle; and that first sortie was aborted after just one day in the air because of a fast developing cold front ahead of it. | Solar Impulse's lightweight and large, 72m wingspan put significant constraints on the type of weather conditions it can handle; and that first sortie was aborted after just one day in the air because of a fast developing cold front ahead of it. |
Mr Borschberg diverted to Nagoya, and then had to wait a further month before being given the green light on Monday to take off for Kalealoa. | Mr Borschberg diverted to Nagoya, and then had to wait a further month before being given the green light on Monday to take off for Kalealoa. |
Even so, he has had to cross two weather fronts this week and has endured some uncomfortable turbulence as a consequence. | Even so, he has had to cross two weather fronts this week and has endured some uncomfortable turbulence as a consequence. |
The Swiss team is using the various stopovers on its round-the-world journey to carry a campaigning message to local people on the topic of clean technologies. | The Swiss team is using the various stopovers on its round-the-world journey to carry a campaigning message to local people on the topic of clean technologies. |
The Solar Impulse plane is not really intended to be a vision of the future of aviation. Rather, it is supposed to be a demonstration of the current capabilities of solar power in general. | |
The vehicle is covered in 17,000 photovoltaic cells. These either power the vehicle's electric motors directly, or charge its lithium-ion batteries, which sustain the plane during the night hours. | The vehicle is covered in 17,000 photovoltaic cells. These either power the vehicle's electric motors directly, or charge its lithium-ion batteries, which sustain the plane during the night hours. |
Mr Piccard told reporters at Kalaeloa: "Andre's flight was longer than all the other single-seater flights that had fuel. That's an incredible message. | |
"Now you can fly longer with no fuel than you can with fuel. So, what Andre has done is not only a historic first for aviation, it's a historic first for renewable energies. And this is why we are doing this project." | |
LEG 1: 9 March. Abu Dhabi (UAE) to Muscat (Oman) - 772km; in 13 hours and 1 minute | LEG 1: 9 March. Abu Dhabi (UAE) to Muscat (Oman) - 772km; in 13 hours and 1 minute |
LEG 2: 10 March. Muscat (Oman) to Ahmedabad (India) - 1,593km; in 15 hours and 20 minutes | LEG 2: 10 March. Muscat (Oman) to Ahmedabad (India) - 1,593km; in 15 hours and 20 minutes |
LEG 3: 18 March. Ahmedabad (India) to Varanasi (India) - 1,170km; in 13 hours and 15 minutes | LEG 3: 18 March. Ahmedabad (India) to Varanasi (India) - 1,170km; in 13 hours and 15 minutes |
LEG 4: 18 March. Varanasi (India) to Mandalay (Myanmar) - 1,536km; in 13 hours and 29 minutes | LEG 4: 18 March. Varanasi (India) to Mandalay (Myanmar) - 1,536km; in 13 hours and 29 minutes |
LEG 5: 29 March. Mandalay (Myanmar) to Chongqing (China) - 1,450km; in 20 hours and 29 minutes | LEG 5: 29 March. Mandalay (Myanmar) to Chongqing (China) - 1,450km; in 20 hours and 29 minutes |
LEG 6: 21 April. Chongqing (China) to Nanjing (China) - 1,241km; in 17 hours and 22 minutes | LEG 6: 21 April. Chongqing (China) to Nanjing (China) - 1,241km; in 17 hours and 22 minutes |
LEG 7: 30 May. Nanjing (China) to Nagoya (Japan) - 2,852km; in 44 hours and 9 minutes | LEG 7: 30 May. Nanjing (China) to Nagoya (Japan) - 2,852km; in 44 hours and 9 minutes |
Leg 8: 28 June. Nagoya (Japan) to Kalaeloa, Hawaii (USA) - 8,000km; 118 hours (estimated) | Leg 8: 28 June. Nagoya (Japan) to Kalaeloa, Hawaii (USA) - 8,000km; 118 hours (estimated) |