Explorer Attempts Longest Solo Trip in a Solar-Powered AircraftThe Solar Impulse 2 is currently in flight from Nagoya, Japan, to Hawaii.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
“所有的科学突破的开始with a crazy idea and are first said to be impossible."
André Borschbergsent that tweet yesterday -- and it makes sense he would. The Swiss pilot is testing his own crazy idea: attempting to circumnavigate the world in a solar-powered aircraft.
The solar-powered Solar Impulse 2, which took off from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in March, is circling the globe, stopping in 12 cities over five months, in an effort to bring awareness to the potential of solar energy. Currently, Borschberg is a bit more than 22 hours into the longest leg of that journey. The 120-hour solo flight will traverse the Pacific Ocean, flying from Nagoya, Japan, to Hawaii.
Already the Solar Impulse team hasbroken solar-powered aviation records, but if they are able to complete this 120 hour, five-day, five-night leg of the journey,they will again break world records.
Related:Solar-Powered Plane Completes First Leg of Journey Around the Globe
The Solar Impulse team is calling this leg of the journey "the moment of truth," according tothe website where you can track the flight in real time, because it is the longest and riskiest part.
Borschberg and fellow Swiss pilotBertrand Piccard, who have prepared for thissolar-powered feat for a dozen years, are taking turns at the wheel of the aircraft.Takeoff for this current trip was postponed twice alreadyon account of bad weather before the aircraft finally took off yesterday.
The one-seater futuristic aircrafthas a 72-meter wingspan, roughly equivalent to a Boeing 747 passenger plane, but weighs only 2,300 kilograms, or approximately the weight of a car. Of particular importance to its ability to take multi-day trips, the Solar Impulse can fly at night.
Related:This Startup Wants to Shine a Light on Far Reaches of the Globe
Check out these pics:
The reason why we are flying to Hawaii is because we want to prove# futureiscleanis possible:http://t.co/9OWj3SlBMbpic.twitter.com/71gXnhtUBM
— SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse)June 29, 2015
Some selfies received directly from#Si2's cockpit today! Great spirit!@andreborschberghttp://t.co/kZc17xtmNTpic.twitter.com/pFp20MzhN5
— SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse)June 29, 2015
From Nagoya to Hawaii: an epic#solarflight across the#太平洋! Stay tuned onhttp://t.co/JIj9tHK6hlpic.twitter.com/oVjkjqPINR
— SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse)June 29, 2015
After 16h of flight,#Si2passed the non-return point & is entering the night.# futureiscleanhttp://t.co/JIj9tHK6hlpic.twitter.com/hh1k1nuRBw
— SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse)June 29, 2015
The exploration starts together with@bertrandpiccard. I'm now 16 hours fully into the flight!pic.twitter.com/hnKOoLwuC4
— André Borschberg (@andreborschberg)June 29, 2015
All scientific breakthroughs start with a crazy idea and are first said to be impossiblepic.twitter.com/lR7zl9mhBP
— André Borschberg (@andreborschberg)June 28, 2015
To tackle the#RTWhuman challenge,#solarimpulse's pilots draw on of self-hypnosis & yogahttp://t.co/vXnPD0Qqripic.twitter.com/nCEcunNV4K
— SOLAR IMPULSE (@solarimpulse)June 28, 2015
This first flight across the Pacific will be an exploration flight, the longest of@solarimpulse's#RTWmissionpic.twitter.com/8QFpqMNYqj
— Bertrand PICCARD (@bertrandpiccard)June 29, 2015
Related:Bright Idea: Startup Aims to Advance Solar Energy in Developing Countries
