Solar Impulse 2 Lands in Ahmedabad, India (Video)

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

Originally published on 1Sun4All.

The Solar Impulse team says via Twitter: He made it! Bertrand Piccard landed safely in #Ahmedabad after a record-breaking flight!

Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) took off at 6.35am (02:35UTC) on the second flight in this round-the-world journey from Muscat (Muscat International Airport, MCT/OOMS) in the Sultanate of Oman to Ahmedabad (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, AMD/VAAH) in the Republic of India. According to Solar Impulse, Bertrand Piccard landed at 11.25pm local time, 17:55UTC. This is the second flight of 12 to be successfully completed.

Bertrand Piccard piloted the “fast feather flying” across 1465km (791NM, and 910 miles) for an estimated time of 15 hours. This was the first flight for Si2 over an ocean.

Near the end of the flight, the Solar Impulse team tweeted: “Weather looks perfect for a descent toward Ahmedabad #India using wind to fly fast (70kts, 80.6 mph, ground speed).”

Technical data at Solar Impulse says Si2 lands at a speed of 30–33 knots (between 35 and 38 miles per hour), with no tail wind and a maximum headwind of 4 knots.

Winds and gusts make landing Si2 extremely challenging due to its light weight and broad wingspan. The pilot must keep a steady heading and slow rate of descent in order not to damage the landing gear.

Along the side of the runway are the ground crew, needed to stabilize the plane as it rolls to a standstill. The outer motors are docked in order to minimise the risk of injury to the awaiting crew.

Solar Impulse 2

During the second flight, Solar Impulse tweeted: “We want people to understand #solarimpulse is not an airplane, it’s a message #FutureIsClean.”

While the experimental aircraft is flying, you can watch how the solar cells and batteries are operating in real time at Solar Impulse Cockpit, as well as the flight profile and status of the pilot.

Solar Impulse 2 RTW

Tweets from the flight include:

  • 10:00AM UTC: Before entering Indian airspace, Bertrand Picard at FL250 (25,000ft) in an unpressurized cabin, -5°C (23°F). And: #solarimpulse batteries are full!
  • 8:00AM UTC: Bertrand Picard puts on another layer as he climbs up to 27,000ft in #Si2 over the Arabian sea.
  • Bertrand Picard: “When I relax, I breathe so slowly that it triggers the cockpit alarm!”

Photo Credits: 2015-03-10 Solar Impulse 2 RTW 2nd Flight Muscat to Ahmedabad Take-off Stefatou-0811 & 0808 via Solar Impulse


Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica TV Video


Advertisement
 
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.

Amber Archangel

-- I am an artist, painter, writer, interior designer, graphic designer, and constant student of many studies. Living with respect for the environment close at hand, the food chain, natural remedies for healing the earth, people and animals is a life-long expression and commitment. As half of a home-building team, I helped design and build harmonious, sustainable and net-zero homes that incorporate clean air systems, passive and active solar energy as well as rainwater collection systems. Private aviation stirs a special appeal, I would love to fly in the solar airplane and install a wind turbine in my yard. I am a peace-loving, courageous soul, and I am passionate about contributing to the clean energy revolution. I formerly designed and managed a clean energy website, 1Sun4All.com.

Amber Archangel has 195 posts and counting. See all posts by Amber Archangel